NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is launching his campaign for governor of New Mexico.
Bregman began his political career as a member of the Albuquerque City Council from 1995 to 1999. He later served as chair of the state Democratic Party. In 2023, Bregman was appointed as Second Judicial District Attorney by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, he was then elected to the position in November 2024.
In a news conference in Las Vegas on Thursday, Bregman said, “We’ve convicted over 2,000 drunk drivers. We’ve gone after drug traffickers and child molesters. We’ve been relentless in holding violent criminals, including juvenile violent criminals, accountable to the best we can under the laws as they exist.”
That growing issue, especially juvenile crime, is something he wants to tackle if elected as governor. “We’ve got a long road to go. But things like holding people accountable, focusing on violent criminals, focusing on drug treatment and mental health treatment for those who are addicted to substances, mental health treatment is extremely important. We’ve got a homeless population that we’re dealing with,” said Bregman.
When asked how he would improve New Mexico’s education rankings, Bregman said, “If they’re not in the school house, they are not going to get the education they need…And we, as a state, when it comes to our education department, needs to focus on that issue. Of course, we also need to pay our teachers the very best we can.”
He also criticized President Donald Trump’s policies while also going after the far left. “Democrats in Washington have been weak, ineffective, and complicit with all this madness,” said Bregman.
He’s also making a push for affordable housing: “We need to increase the housing in New Mexico, if you will, and we need to do policies that encourage the continuing build-out of affordable housing for all the people of New Mexico.”
When asked how he would handle the agriculture and oil and gas industries, “We need to recognize their contributions to keeping our food chain and our food prices reasonable for all of us. And we should salute them and thank them. Oil and gas. Oil and gas creates 100,000 jobs a year, contributes $1 billion a year for education, and funds half the state budget. We should be supporting oil and gas,” said Bregman.
His takeaway message? “My biggest priority is standing up for the people of New Mexico and doing what’s best for them, and that knows no party. That just is being a good governor and doing the right thing for everybody, and that’s what my focus will be,” said Bregman.
He is going up against former Congresswoman Deb Haaland in the Democratic primary. Haaland also served as the Secretary of the Interior. She was appointed by former President Joe Biden.