Polling Average
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
22.3%
51.8%
9%
Democrat
Sam Bregman
New Mexico Democratic Governor nominee?
$71.9K
JUN 3, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleDistrict Attorney
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
GenderMale
LocationNew Mexico
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BackgroundDistrict attorney
EducationUniversity of New Mexico (bachelor’s degree)
Notable personal detailsSam Bregman is the District Attorney for New Mexico’s Second Judicial District (Bernalillo County). He was appointed to the position in January 2023 and later won election to a full term in 2024. He has worked as a litigator and former prosecutor, previously served as a deputy state auditor, and served on the Albuquerque City Council. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law.
SourcesShowHide
governor.state.nm.usnmdas.comnmpoliticalreport.combregmanfornm.comda2nd.nm.govnmdfa.state.nm.ussbnm.orgnmlegis.govnmchamber.orgnewmexicopbs.orgtransparencyusa.orglwvcnm.orglea.nm.govnewmexicosun.comsourcenm.comksfr.orgsam-berman.comen.wikipedia.orgkunm.orgaclu-nm.orgreddit.comnewsradiokkob.comapnews.comwashingtonpost.comreadersupportednews.orgstore.bregmanfornm.combpr.orgpetedinelli.comsantafenewmexican.comabqjournal.comkoat.comtaosnews.comnativenewsonline.netaxios.comnytimes.compinonpost.comballotpedia.orgfacebook.compbs.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdata.ballotpedia.orggovinfo.govwikidata.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgvotesmart.orgfec.govcongress.govhistory.house.goveducation.nga.orgncsl.orgclerk.house.govnga.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports cutting middle-class taxes and eliminating taxes on essential services while expanding refundable tax credits for children and working families, incentivizing small-business job creation, and offering targeted tax credits to attract entrepreneurs and clean-energy manufacturing. Proposes removing New Mexico’s tax on medical services and creating refundable credits for small businesses and relocating skilled workers to grow the tax base.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to medical care in New Mexico through strengthening public programs and removing barriers to providers; proposals include protecting Medicaid funding, eliminating the gross receipts tax on medical services, medical malpractice reform, and joining an interstate licensure compact to increase provider availability.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protecting asylum access and limiting local/state involvement in immigration enforcement while cooperating with federal authorities for serious criminal offenses; opposes county immigrant detention contracts and non-judicial ICE detainers and proposes safe zones and limits on immigration-status inquiries during delivery of public services.
Climate & Energy
Supports major expansion of clean energy (solar, wind, geothermal, hydrogen), modernizing the grid and building transmission and storage, while endorsing continued, regulated oil-and-gas production during a transition (plugging orphan wells, cutting methane, stronger oversight) and using fossil revenues to fund clean-energy investments and schools.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded background-check enforcement and red-flag orders, stronger prosecution of gun traffickers and straw purchasers, safe-storage programs and school zero-tolerance for firearms while also emphasizing police recruitment and juvenile accountability. Plans a Gun Violence Prosecution Unit and implementation steps to make recent gun-safety laws effective.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Sam Bregman lost the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor to Deb Haaland, who won by a wide margin in the primary. Before the vote, Bregman was in a costly and closely watched race that drew heavy turnout and more than $17 million in total campaign spending. He also spent the final stretch attacking Haaland and arguing his record as Bernalillo County district attorney, while laying out positions on education, immigration, crime, healthcare, and the state budget.
governor.state.nm.us+54
Articles
AJAlbuquerque Journal2 months ago
Deb Haaland wins Democratic nomination for governor, rebuffing challenge from Sam Bregman
Negative
AJAlbuquerque Journal2 months ago
Early voter turnout tops 180,000 ahead of election day.
Neutral
TAThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution2 months ago
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in New Mexico’s state primary
Neutral
AJAlbuquerque Journal2 months ago
New Mexico governor's primary sets spending record at over $17 million
Neutral
Polls
New Mexico Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
New Mexico Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Sam Bregman for New Mexico Democratic Governor nominee?
Jeff Tucker
Elected official
ABQ Journal editor Jeff Tucker endorsed Sam Bregman for governor.
Another New Mexico tribe
Elected official
A third New Mexico tribe endorsed Sam Bregman in the governor's race.
Jicarilla Apache Nation
Elected official
Jicarilla Apache Nation endorsed Sam Bregman in the New Mexico governor's race.
Sandia Pueblo
Elected official
Sandia Pueblo endorsed Sam Bregman for governor in New Mexico.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising