Haaland scores big victory over Bregman in Democratic Party pre-primary convention

SANTA FE — Deb Haaland posted a decisive victory over her primary rival Sam Bregman at the Democratic Party of New Mexico’s pre-primary convention, firmly establishing herself as the frontrunner for the party’s nomination in June.

Voting results released Monday by the state party showed Haaland with 73.5% of the votes cast by 997 delegates at the pre-primary convention, while Bregman received 26.5% of the votes.

While both candidates qualified for the primary ballot, Haaland, a former congresswoman and U.S. Interior secretary under Joe Biden, said the victory would give her campaign a jolt of momentum as the June 2 primary election approaches.

“This election will decide if New Mexicans can pay their bills each month, see a doctor when they’re sick, have a quality public education, and feel safe in their community,” Haaland said in a statement. “I’m grateful to all the delegates who voted for me, the volunteers that got me to this point, and for the confidence of Democratic delegates to take on Trump and MAGA Republicans.” 

Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney who has challenged Haaland to debate him on policy issues, said Monday he would not give up despite the defeat.

“The insiders wanted a coronation. That’s how the political establishment likes to do things,” he said in a statement. “But this election isn’t going to work that way. The people of New Mexico, not a room full of party power brokers, will decide who leads this state.” 

New Mexico Democrats gathered Saturday in Mescalero for their pre-primary convention, which major political parties are required to hold in even-numbered election years.

But vote results from the convention were not released until Monday because voting was conducted via electronic ballots over a two-day period.

While some incumbent Democrats are running unopposed in this year’s primary election, the showdown to succeed outgoing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term, is not the only contested race.

In the race to replace outgoing Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Santa Fe County Clerk Katherine Clark got 46.2% of the delegate vote compared to 35.8% for Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin. A third candidate, former state Veterans Services Secretary Sonya Smith, fell short of qualifying for the ballot after receiving 18% of the votes cast.

In the lieutenant governor race, Toulouse Oliver came in ahead of state Sen. Harold Pope Jr. of Albuquerque, receiving 58.4% of the votes cast by delegates compared to 41.6% for Pope.

Juan Sanchez, the former political director for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., finished first in the other contested Democratic party, getting 55.8% of the delegate votes in a three-way primary race for state land commissioner. State Rep. Matthew McQueen of Galisteo came in second with 37% of the votes cast, while rancher Jonas Moya fell short of automatically qualifying for the ballot with 7.2% of the votes.

Under state law, statewide candidates and those running for congressional seats must receive at least 20% of the votes cast at pre-primary conventions in order to secure their spot on the primary election ballot. But those who fall short of that figure can still qualify if they submit additional voter signatures next week.

While the conventions have traditionally been a barometer of a candidate’s support level within the party, there have also been several recent examples of candidates who perform poorly at the convention but go on to win the primary election.

That includes Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gary King in 2014, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti in 2022. Both went on to lose in the general election.

Meanwhile, Republicans also held their pre-primary convention last weekend in the Ruidoso area, with Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull getting the most votes in a five-way GOP gubernatorial primary race.

Democrats have swept Republicans in statewide races in recent election cycles, and currently hold all state offices. New Mexico’s congressional delegation has also been all-Democrat since 2023.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.