The Albuquerque Board of Ethics and Campaign Practices on Aug. 20 approved City Clerk Ethan Watson’s request to expand an investigation into fraud allegations against District 1 City Council candidate Daniel Gilbert Leiva. The board voted 6-0 to allow the city’s inspector general to audit an additional 5% of Leiva’s qualifying contributions and review who […]
Category: Politics & Elections
Reports on Elections and Voting in New Mexico.
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Bernalillo County GOP responds to mayoral candidate controversy
The Republican Party of Bernalillo County issued a statement Monday defending its handling of candidates following a news report that exposed false claims made by Albuquerque mayoral hopeful Patrick Sais. The party said it cannot prevent candidates from running for office and emphasized that campaign materials are solely the responsibility of individual candidates. “As a […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Echoing George Santos, ABQ mayoral candidate campaigns on fake education, experience and made-up prior elected office
#Albuquerque mayoral candidate Patrick B. Sais says he graduated from UNM, was elected to the City Council and earned endorsements from community leaders. We found out it is all a lie.
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Less than 90 days until election day, challengers post weak fundraising numbers in bid to oust Keller
Donations large and small from family members, real estate developers and cannabis companies helped the leading challengers to incumbent Mayor Tim Keller raise a combined $170,000 in just under 30 days, but all of that effort was dwarfed by Keller’s single contribution: a $733,000 contribution from the city’s public financing account. Candidates for all city […]
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Sanchez calls for APD to cooperate with federal agents after voting to preserve anti-cooperation law
City Councilor Louie Sanchez says he will require Albuquerque police to cooperate with federal immigration officers if he is elected mayor, despite casting the deciding vote last year on legislation prohibiting police from doing just that. In May of last year, the former Albuquerque police officer turned city councilor surprised many city politics watchers when […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Six candidates qualify for public financing in Albuquerque City Council election
The Office of the City Clerk certified the publicly financed candidates Monday, with four incumbents and two newcomers earning the right to receive lump-sum grants from the city’s Open and Ethical Elections Fund to run their campaigns through November’s election. City Clerk Ethan Watson’s office announced that the following candidates qualified for public financing: Ahren […]
Posted inNew Mexico
Rio Rancho pharmacist running for House
Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke says she loves New Mexico and wants to be part of lifting the state that has given her multiple opportunities to meet its full potential. Okpareke is running as a Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat in next year’s election, challenging Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury. Okpareke, 41, lives […]
Posted inNew Mexico, Politics & Elections
Haaland warns of rural healthcare crisis, opposes federal healthcare legislation
Deb Haaland, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor, held a press conference outside a hospital in Española on Tuesday to criticize federal healthcare legislation she says will devastate rural communities across the state. Speaking in front of the hospital, Haaland warned that the “Big Billionaire Bill” would strip Medicaid coverage from […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Mayoral campaign finance reports update: Sanchez, Chavez give themselves over $100K to challenge Keller
With the field of seven set for the 2025 Albuquerque mayoral race, campaign finance reports from the most recent reporting period were released Monday. Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller is the only candidate to qualify for Albuquerque’s public financing system, giving him access to $755,946 in taxpayer funds while his challengers must rely on private donations […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
City Council candidate to challenge ballot ruling after falling short by seven signatures
City Council hopeful Stephanie Telles said she plans to formally contest the City Clerk’s decision that found her campaign seven signatures short of qualifying for the ballot. In a message sent to supporters Friday, Telles said she will request an audit of the petition signatures submitted, arguing that voters’ intent should carry weight in determining […]