Medina’s retirement plans spark social media fight, speculation on who would be ABQ’s next top cop

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina told the Albuquerque Journal in Dec. 2024 that he would retire at the end of Mayor Tim Keller’s current term, but he quickly walked that back by saying he might instead of he would. Fast-forward to Nov. 2025 and Keller confirmed Who will be Albuquerque’s next police chief? Mayor Tim […]

Garcia ends District 3 challenge, vows to continue Southwest Mesa fight

Teresa Garcia called incumbent Klarissa Peña Thursday morning to concede the City Council District 3 race, reversing course from plans to seek a recount after losing by 68 votes in the Dec. 9 runoff election.  At a press conference at Alamosa Park, Garcia said she cannot ask supporters — including mayoral candidate Alex Uballez and […]

Garcia to seek recount after Peña prevails by 68 votes in Westside council race

By Lauren Lifke, nm.news — City Councilor Klarissa Peña held onto her seat in the runoff in District 3 on Dec. 9 after a close race with candidate Teresa Garcia, winning by just 68 votes after all votes were counted. The runoff election was held because no single candidate got more than 50% of the […]

The day after: White expresses no regrets, knows what’s to blame

What initially looked like a thrilling election night in Albuquerque ended with a whimper less than an hour after polls closed when mayoral candidate Darren White took the podium at his watch party and broke the news to the large crowd of supporters that he had just called Mayor Tim Keller to congratulate him on […]

Keller makes ABQ history: First mayor to win three consecutive terms

Mayor Tim Keller made history tonight, defeating former Sheriff Darren White to become the first Albuquerque mayor to win three straight four-year terms since the city adopted its current mayoral system in the mid-1970s. With all of the absentee and early votes cast, Keller emerged with an early 58%-41% lead according to unofficial results from […]

Telles triumphs: Democrat secures firmer city council majority

By Sara Atencio-Gonzales  Democrat Stephanie Telles won the District 1 City Council runoff, giving Democrats a firmer majority on the nine-member council as she prepares to represent Albuquerque’s central Westside. Her victory preserves a Democratic voting bloc and concludes a competitive two-candidate runoff that followed a four-way race in November.  Early and absentee voting showed […]

Battle for the 5th vote: Conservatives eye majority, progressives fight for control through Westside runoffs

Commentary & Analysis in City DeskPat Davis is the founder and publisher of citydesk.org. He is a recovering politician having served eight years as an Albuquerque City Councilor and, in another life, served as a police officer and nonprofit organizer. Citywide, turnout for runoff elections ending Tues. Dec. 9 is strong, but that’s not the […]

A new arena? New housing? Gov unveils three possible plans for State Fairgrounds

Should the state fair grounds be home to a new arena? What about housing or a museum? All of those ideas made the cut when Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office unveiled three conceptual plans for redeveloping the Albuquerque Fairgrounds in the International District today. Stantec, a global design and engineering company hired by the state, […]

Opinion: Could Tim Keller lose? The data says it’s closer than you think

Commentary & Analysis in City Desk We ask experts and reporters covering local news to share their takes on how it all fits together. Analysis by Editor Kevin Hendricks, City Hall Reporter Jesse Jones and Publisher Pat Davis By the time early voting ended Saturday night, 82,013 (22% of eligible voters) had turned out in […]

8 years after plans began, new Westside park inches forward

Way back in 2017, Susana Martinez was still governor of New Mexico, no one had heard of COVID and residents of the Westside’s Crestview and Alamosa neighborhoods began working with City Councilor Klarissa Peña to plan a new neighborhood park. Eight years later, a press release from the City announced that the project is completing […]