NEWS
Haaland holds big cash advantage over Hull in New Mexico's open race for governor
Latest reports show Democratic nominee with a roughly 7-to-1 cash edge over GOP opponent
SANTA FE — Deb Haaland is entering the final four months before November’s general election with a significant cash edge in New Mexico’s open race for governor.
The Democratic nominee reported last week having raised roughly $1.1 million during a four-week period that began just before the June 2 primary election.
That fundraising haul brought the balance of her campaign account to nearly $2.3 million — even after spending roughly $11.6 million so far on her campaign.
Gregg Hull, her Republican opponent, reported raising more than $349,000 during the recent reporting period. He enters the summer with $297,838 in his campaign account as he seeks to flip control of the Governor’s Office.
Longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff said the Republican nominee will have to convince potential donors of his electoral viability in order to close the money gap.
“The big question for Gregg Hull is whether he can demonstrate to big-money Republican donors that he can run a competitive race,” said Sanderoff, who is the president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc.
This year’s race for governor is already among the most expensive in state history, driven primarily by hefty spending in the Democratic primary contest between Haaland and Sam Bregman.
In her bid to become the first Native American woman elected governor, Haaland has received a flood of contributions from around the nation. Her latest campaign report detailing donors surpassed 2,400 pages.
A Haaland campaign spokeswoman said Monday the Democratic nominee’s plans to lower costs, improve public education and expand access to healthcare are striking a chord with New Mexicans — and residents of other states.
“That message resonates with voters because they face these issues every day, and that’s exactly why we’re seeing such strong numbers,” Haaland campaign spokeswoman Hannah Menchhoff also said. “She is incredibly grateful for the grassroots support from across the state, and enters the final four months of the general election in a commanding position.”
Among the hundreds of donations received by Haaland were contributions of more than $8,200 apiece from three New Mexico hospitals — in Las Cruces, Carlsbad and Roswell — owned by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems.
The former U.S. interior secretary under President Joe Biden also got a $10,400 from the Democratic Governors Association, a Washington D.C.-based group that has also been active in past New Mexico gubernatorial races.
The Haaland campaign’s robust national donor network was expensive to build but could reap benefits in the coming months, Sanderoff said
“She not only has a big base, but she now has the ability to draw on it again” for the general election, he added.
For his part, Hull has described his campaign as a grassroots effort focused on New Mexicans. But the former Rio Rancho mayo also acknowledged during the primary election cycle that his fundraising totals might make it difficult for him to launch a TV ad barrage.
Hull did receive several large contributions since winning a three-way GOP primary race, including donations from Roswell auto dealer Thomas Krumland and the state Republican Party. But his overall fundraising levels remain below the amount raised by Republican nominee Mark Ronchetti at the same point in the 2022 race for governor.
Despite the sizable cash disadvantage, Hull pointed out Monday he won the Republican nomination even though he spent less money than his two opponents — Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez.
“This isn’t new territory for us: Our primary opponents significantly outspent our campaign, and we still won that race handily because New Mexicans were voting on record and leadership, not bank accounts,” Hull said in a statement.
“New Mexicans are looking for real results, real experience solving problems and experience delivering progress,” he added. “I spent 12 years as Mayor of Rio Rancho proving I can do that — and I’m going to keep making that case in every corner of this state.”
The reports filed last week covered a roughly four-week period — from May 27 through June 27 — and were the final reports required for the primary election cycle. Candidates will have to file additional reports this fall as the Nov. 3 general election approaches.
This year’s race for governor is open because incumbent Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is barred under the state Constitution from seeking a third consecutive term. The two-term Democratic governor will step down at the end of this year.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.