Sam Bregman, a district attorney and father of Red Sox and former Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, will run for governor in New Mexico.
Why it matters: Bregman made the decision official Thursday, which means he will face former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the state’s Democratic primary in a closely watched 2026 race.
The big picture: New Mexico is one of the nation’s bluest states, with the country’s highest percentage of Hispanic residents, and is a critical bellwether two years before presidential elections.
Zoom in: Bregman is expected to self-finance a sizable portion of his campaign against the popular Haaland.
- He told Axios he will focus on jobs, education and crime, especially in Albuquerque.
- Preliminary numbers show the state’s largest city has seen a 20% jump in homicides from 2020 to 2024, while the nation’s largest cities saw a 16% drop.
- New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque this week, saying that a significant increase in crime there warranted the help of the New Mexico National Guard.
What they’re saying: “I’m someone who wants to focus on the issues that people talk about around the breakfast table and the dinner table. I don’t want to talk about cultural issues,” Bregman told Axios.
- Bregman did not mention Haaland by name but stressed he’s “results oriented” and said the state’s residents needed someone to protect them from President Trump’s policies and the “radical left.”
The intrigue: Bregman’s campaign released a video online that showed him riding a horse through the desert in what many saw as a direct appeal to rural Hispanic men in Northern New Mexico.
- The video also shows images of Elon Musk giving what scholars and rights groups said was a Hitlergruß, or Nazi salute with Bregman saying, “MAGA powerbrokers…they don’t care about you or me.”
- Bregman is Jewish and says he’s been the subject of verbal antisemitic attacks.
State of play: Grisham appointed Bregman district attorney of the state’s largest county, which includes Albuquerque, in 2023, and he easily won re-election the following year.
- Haaland seeks to become the first Native American woman to serve as governor in U.S. history.
- Ken Miyagishima, the former mayor of Las Cruces and one of the largest, longest-serving Asian American mayors, is expected to join the governor’s race next month.
Zoom out: Whoever wins the Democratic primary is expected to have an edge against any GOP nominee.
- Republicans have not won a statewide seat since 2014. The party remains in disarray due to infighting and President Trump’s unpopularity.
The Haaland campaign, in a statement, did not address Bregman’s entrance into the race but said she had gained support since her announcement.
- “Deb’s message of strength and leadership to address New Mexico’s challenges head-on is resonating with New Mexicans. We’re truly grateful for the resounding grassroots support she’s received across the state,” the statement said.
- Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), who could have been a potential rival for the seat, announced in January that he would stay in the Senate.
Fun fact: If elected, Bregman would be the state’s second Jewish governor.
- Arthur Seligman was elected New Mexico governor in 1930 and later helped the state become a haven for Jewish refugees escaping the Holocaust.
