Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman says improving infrastructure and public services in the East Mountains will be a priority if elected, drawing on his early political experience in the region to inform his campaign platform.
In a Nov. 21 interview, Bregman recalled launching his political career in the East Mountains at age 18 as a Democratic precinct chairman in La Madera, a rural precinct in Sandoval County near Placitas.
“I cut my teeth in East Mountain politics when I was 18 years old,” Bregman said.
The Bernalillo County district attorney identified fire response times, police presence and road maintenance as key concerns for East Mountain residents.
“Infrastructure and public services are always very important up there,” Bregman said. “Fire, enough fire response time, enough police, making sure that the infrastructure, when it comes to the roads, are taken care of.”
He said many dirt roads in the area need better maintenance.
“There’s a lot of dirt roads that we all know could be better maintained, and that’s something extremely important,” he said.
Bregman said affordability emerged as a common theme during his recent 11-stop listening tour across New Mexico, which included visits to rural and urban communities statewide.
“Jobs and affordability is a subject and a topic throughout the entire state,” he said. “Through that listening tour, I’ve learned that the rural areas, they have a lot of unique characteristics to them, specifically based on the town, but also they have a lot of similar issues.”
Cost of living concerns topped the list in many rural areas, including the East Mountains.
“Whether or not the cost of living is something they can continue to afford, that’s something I’m focused on,” Bregman said.
Bregman is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026. He faces former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima in the primary.
The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2026. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham cannot seek a third consecutive term due to term limits.
Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and state Sen. Steve Lanier are running for the Republican nomination.