■ Politics & Elections Archives - Page 4 of 18

Sandoval County voters head to the polls Tuesday for the June 2 primary — and more than 16,300 ballots are already in the books after early and absentee voting closed Saturday, May 30.

Meth, fentanyl found on Sandoval County absentee ballots; clerk says no workers exposed

by Kevin Hendricks, Editor October 16, 2026October 16, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Sandoval County election workers found methamphetamine and fentanyl on multiple absentee ballots Friday morning. County officials say no one was exposed, and every affected vote will still count. Initial tests flagged the drugs in election mail at the county’s Bureau of Elections warehouse, County Clerk Anne Brady-Romero reported. Local, […]

■ Politics & Elections

Early returns: Nearly 5,000 Sandoval County ballots cast as voting expands Saturday

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Nearly 5,000 Sandoval County voters have already cast ballots for the Nov. 3 election. Starting Saturday, everyone else gets a lot more places to do the same. Early voting expands to 21 more sites across the county on Oct. 17, including five in Rio Rancho. Until now, the only […]

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Taxing matters: Rio Rancho House hopefuls split on scrapping state income tax

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Your state income tax is on the ballot this fall, at least in spirit. Republicans running for Rio Rancho-area House seats say New Mexico’s oil windfall can cover shrinking or scrapping it. Their Democratic opponents say that would blow a hole in schools, health care and public safety. Candidates […]

A New Mexico voter heads to the polls at Tijeras Village Hall. A federal judge ruled this week that voters' personal data, including Social Security numbers, will stay protected from a DOJ lawsuit. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/City Desk ABQ.

■ Politics & Elections

Poll position: State spells out who can — and can’t — hang around while you vote

By Kevin Hendricks — New Mexico voters just got a cheat sheet — the legal kind. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Attorney General Raúl Torrez released a joint advisory Tuesday spelling out election deadlines, who belongs at a polling place and what crosses the line into voter intimidation. Only poll workers, voters, credentialed […]

Greggory Hull, right, the Republican candidate for New Mexico governor introduces his running mate, David Gallegos, who is seeking to be the next Lt. governor. They appeared on Tuesday at The Valley Cafe to meet residents and talk about their campaign.

■ Politics & Elections

Republicans for governor, lt. governor make the pitch for Roswell votes

According to Greggory Hull, the Republican candidate for New Mexico governor, this could be the year his party wins the election for the state’s top office. The Daily Record spoke to Republicans at this event and reached out to local Democrats by telephone the same evening who didn’t attend. Hull and David Gallegos, the Republican […]

Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas

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‘Work isn’t finished’: Olivas seeks reelection to BernCo commission

by Kevin Hendricks, Editor October 13, 2026October 13, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas is seeking a second term representing District 5, which covers much of east central Albuquerque, including Uptown and Four Hills, and all of the East Mountains. He faces Republican Thomas Riley on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Olivas, a Democrat, defeated radio station owner Byron Powdrell in the June […]

U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson (r) and Greg Cunningham

■ Politics & Elections

U.S. House Speaker Johnson returns to New Mexico for GOP congressional hopeful’s fundraiser

By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) made his second New Mexico visit Monday evening in support of Republican Greg Cunningham, where he led a fundraiser in Las Cruces in the final stretch of the closely watched 2nd Congressional District race. Johnson last visited New Mexico in late August […]

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Deb Haaland for New Mexico governor in a video posted Wednesday.

■ Politics & Elections

Organizer to organizer: Obama backs Haaland for New Mexico governor

by Kevin Hendricks October 8, 2026October 8, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks New Mexico voters heard a campaign pitch from a familiar voice Wednesday. Former President Barack Obama wants them to elect Democrat Deb Haaland as their next governor. The endorsement comes with early voting underway in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. In a video posted to social media […]

Democrat Frank Smith Jr., left, and Republican Edwin Paul Linson, right, faced off during a Sept. 29 forum hosted by the Rio Rancho Observer and the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce. Smith is a Marine veteran with a law degree who chairs the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus. Linson is a 24-year law enforcement veteran and former police chief who runs a real estate business with his wife. The Rio Rancho-centered seat is on the Nov. 3 ballot, and early voting started Tuesday, Oct. 6.

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Pass the bill? District 3 commission hopefuls split on who pays for growth

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County’s District 3 commission candidates agree Rio Rancho needs better roads and better-paying jobs. They split on whether Washington should pick up the tab. Democrat Frank Smith Jr. and Republican Edwin Paul Linson faced off during a Sept. 29 forum hosted by the Rio Rancho Observer and the Rio […]

Democrat Juan de Jesus Sanchez III, left, and Republican Michael Perry are facing off in the Nov. 3 election to become New Mexico commissioner of public lands overseeing the State Land Office. (Source NM file and courtesy photos)

■ Politics & Elections

New Mexico Election 2026: Commissioner of public lands

by Source New Mexico October 6, 2026October 7, 2026

By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico — This November, New Mexicans will elect a new leader to the office that manages millions of acres of state lands at a time of record-high oil and gas prices, increased corporate interest in data centers and uranium extraction, and ongoing environmental threats posed by wildfire and drought. Republican […]