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4-24-2026 6:32am
New Poll Highlights Mud-Slinging in NM Governor’s Race as Voters Crave Clean Politics
Chris Edwards
Editor
Alamogordo, NM — A new Emerson College poll shows former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland leading the Democratic primary for New Mexico governor with 40% support compared to 24% for Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, with 36% of Democratic voters still undecided.
On the Republican side, voters remain largely undecided, with 61% not committed to any candidate. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull leads the GOP field at 21%, followed by Duke Rodriguez at 10% and Doug Turner at 9%.
While the numbers reflect the state of the race just weeks before the June 2 primary, the campaign has been marred by negative attacks and mud-slinging that many New Mexicans find distasteful. A political action committee has run ads attempting to tie Haaland to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, referencing a 2014 flight and past campaign donations linked to Epstein-associated entities. Fact-checks from multiple outlets have described some of these ads as misleading or exaggerated. Haaland has stated she never met Epstein and was unaware of the full details at the time. Regardless, the tactic has fueled a bitter primary and raised concerns about the tone of New Mexico politics.
Here in Otero County and throughout New Mexico, voters are fatigued with mud-slinging and dirty politics. The internal mud-slinging and division within the Republican Party — particularly with State Party Chair Amy Barela not stepping down from her role while running in a contested primary against Jonathan Emory for Otero County Commissioner — has added to a sense of distraction and discontent among Republicans.
One Santa Fe Republican told Alamogordo Town News: “The focus should be on educating voters and unifying the party around our Republican gubernatorial candidates. Instead, the focus has been the lack of enforcement of Republican Party rules, resulting in a divided party not coalescing around candidates.”
Alamogordo Town News believes in clean, transparent governance. New Mexicans deserve better — a campaign centered on real issues like health care, the economy, crime, education, and fixing our broken child welfare system — rather than personal smears, Epstein connections, or party infighting that distracts from winning in November.
With early voting approaching, it’s time for all candidates and party leaders to rise above the negativity and offer clear solutions for the challenges facing our state. We encourage everyone to join us at Otero Arts on Tuesday May 5th as we hodt a meet the candidates forum and q and a at Otero Arts at 6 pm till 8 pm. All candidates of the June 2nd primary have been invited to join for a wiick round table questions and then meet the public event.
The June 2 primary will be pivotal. We encourage all local voters to stay informed, reject the politics of personal destruction and division, and support candidates committed to integrity and results for everyday New Mexicans.
We will continue to cover this race with a focus on facts and community impact.
