By Kevin Hendricks, Route 66 Independent & NM Political Report — District 5 Bernalillo County Commission candidate Thomas Riley says he wears a ring bearing the Confederate flag as an act of “open rebellion” against the federal government, and he wants the county’s Sheriff’s Office to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to […]
Category: Elections & Politics
Your ballot, your move: Early voting starts Oct. 6
By Kevin Hendricks, nm.news — New Mexico voters can start casting ballots Oct. 6 for the Nov. 3 general election. There’s no reason to wait in line on Election Day, or to walk into the booth guessing. Early voting opens Oct. 6 at county clerk offices. On Oct. 17 it expands to more locations across […]
Opinion: Why I oppose Sandia’s request to unilaterally control 10,000 acres of public land
By Walt Benson, Bernalillo County Commissioner — In 2003, the T’uf Shur Bien Preservation Trust Act was established by the United States Congress. Passage of the act settled a 1994 lawsuit and the Pueblo of Sandia’s claims of ownership of 10,000 acres in perpetuity. The act designated the land in question as National Forest and […]
Can New Mexico, not Blackstone, just buy PNM? It turns out, we can’t. Here’s why.
With more than $70 billion available to invest for the benefit of New Mexico, why doesn’t the State Investment Council just buy PNM instead of letting them sell to Blackstone, a private equity company? This story was originally published at New Mexico Political Report, a nonprofit news service covering politics and policy in the Land […]
Should voters fund campaigns for county officials? Voters will get to decide this November
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Bernalillo County residents will get to decide in November whether their tax dollars should help fund county campaigns — a move commissioners say is aimed squarely at kneecapping the influence of big donors and corporate PACs. The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously June 23, to advance a package […]
Opinion: Former Sheriff Phil Snekeker makes his pitch for BernCo sheriff in Dem. primary
My name is Philip A. Snedeker. I am a candidate for the office of Bernalillo County Sheriff. I will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the office, in the Primary Election, in June of 2026. I grew up in Southern New Mexico, in the Town of Silver City. I attended local rarea schools. I earned […]
‘No Kings’ organizers plan for 40K & Stacey Abrams in rally, march through ABQ Sat.
By Kevin Hendricks — Organizers of Albuquerque’s “NO KINGS” rally are planning for more than 37,000 people to participate in a planned 3-mile march and rally on Saturday – prompting police to issue warnings of impromptu road closures along some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. The “NO KINGS” movement began in 2025 and has since […]
Oops! Candidate for Gov forgot to file paperwork to make the ballot. Now what?
Republican voters may have one less candidate to choose from on their June primary ballot after one candidate failed to show up to file paperwork confirming his eligibility for the primary ballot. State Senator Steve Lanier, a first-term legislator from San Juan County, and Duke Rodriguez, a former health department secretary and cannabis business owner, […]
Whatever happened to Daniel Chavez, mayoral candidate charged with touching staffer?
By Jesse Jones, City Desk in The Paper. — In September, City Desk reported that prosecutors charged Albuquerque mayoral candidate Daniel Chavez after a campaign staffer accused him of inappropriate touching, a misdemeanor battery charge. Prosecutors have now dismissed the case. The 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case on Feb. 20, 2026, in […]
Former sheriff will file to run against BernCo sheriff John Allen in Dem primary
A 27-year law enforcement veteran will file to run against Bernalillo County John Allen in the June 2nd Democratic primary election, City Desk has learned. Phil Snedeker tells City Desk he will file qualifying paperwork and signatures Tuesday morning on local filing day. He has served in the criminal justice system for 47 years, according […]

