Sam's plan: Bregman unveils policy proposals on crime, health care, education

More police officers, expanded tax credits for medical providers, stiffer criminal penalties for juvenile offenders and the approval of interstate compacts to allow out-of-state physicians and specialists to practice in New Mexico.

Democratic candidate Sam Bregman rolled out his policy stances on more than a dozen issues in a 189-page plan Thursday, becoming the first candidate in New Mexico’s 2026 race for governor to do so.

Describing himself as a “common-sense Democrat,” he also challenged his primary election opponent Deb Haaland to debate his plans, saying, “I am sure we will have our differences.”

Haaland, the former U.S. Interior secretary, has not yet released a detailed policy platform, though she embarked on a 19-city listening tour after announcing her campaign earlier this year.

But her campaign manager Dylan McArthur criticized Bregman’s policy plan Thursday, describing it as shoddy and error-filled.

“We’ve begun reviewing Sam Bregman’s plans, and we can already see that they are riddled with dozens of typos, repeated paragraphs, and sentences that are absolute gibberish,” McArthur said in a statement. “We are happy to be running on Deb Haaland’s years-long record of accomplishment for New Mexico, instead of 200 pages of half-baked plans that no one even took the time to proofread.”

Bregman, who is currently the Bernalillo County district attorney, announced his campaign for governor in April. He is vying with Haaland and former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the June 2026 primary election.

On some of the issues, Bregman’s proposals appear to align closely with those of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is barred under the state Constitution from seeking a third consecutive term and will step down at the end of next year.

That includes leveraging state reserves to protect New Mexico from federal Medicaid spending reductions and mandating involuntary behavioral health treatment for some individuals convicted of repeated petty offenses.

“I think the governor has done some great things in a lot of different areas,” Bregman said during a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Albuquerque. “But I also know that we have some severe challenges still.”

Specifically, he said he would seek to expand the state’s economic development efforts and improve child welfare, saying, “We will do better at taking care of our at-risk kids.”

At least some of Lujan Grisham’s crime-related proposals have stalled at the Roundhouse due to opposition from majority Democrats, and Bregman said he would have to work to find solutions with Democratic and Republican legislators alike.

He also reiterated his past criticism of “purity tests” in the Democratic Party and acknowledged some of his positions could put him at odds with progressive activists.

On the issue of energy, for instance, Bregman said proposals to curtail oil production would lead to “draconian” cuts to health care and education in New Mexico. The state is currently the nation’s second-highest oil producer — behind only Texas — and booming production in southeast New Mexico has boosted state revenue collections to record-high levels in recent years.

President Donald Trump is expected to play a central role in next year’s gubernatorial race, as a federal budget bill signed by Trump could hit New Mexico particularly hard given the state’s high Medicaid enrollment rate.

But Bregman said he would not hesitate to stand up to Trump if elected governor, downplaying the possible risk of federal funding being withheld.

“That’s not a fear of mine,” he told the Journal in an interview. “I always have to stand up for New Mexicans and I will always stand up for New Mexicans.”

Bregman also indicated he does not believe overhauling New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws, in part by limiting attorney’s fees in such cases, would be a “silver bullet” to alleviate the state’s long-running health care provider shortage.

The issue of medical malpractice reform has been a hot-button issue at the Roundhouse in recent legislative sessions, and Bregman’s campaign manager Jon Lipshutz formerly led an organization that advocated against changes to the current law.

Meanwhile, Bregman and Haaland are already jockeying to land political endorsements for next year’s race, even though the primary election is still nearly nine months away.

Former professional basketball player and University of New Mexico Lobos star Kenny Thomas threw his support behind Bregman during Thursday’s event, citing Bregman’s focus on helping children.

“He’s that guy I think can knock it out of the park,” said Thomas.

But he also publicly asked Bregman what other plans he’s pushing in addition to stiffer criminal penalties for violent juvenile offenders.

In response, Bregman said his plan has been misconstrued as “lock them up and throw away the key” when it comes to youthful offenders.

“I want them to learn. I want them to have some consequences,” he added. “It’s no different than if you touch a hot stove and you get burned — you usually don’t do it again.”