Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@elritomedia.com
Arguments for reforming New Mexico policies to cut down on crime and cultivate a “business friendly” economy are what Doug Turner hopes will get him elected governor.
Turner is one of two candidates seeking the Republican Party’s gubernatorial nomination in the June 2 primary. The GOP nominee will take on the Democratic candidate in the Nov. 3 general election.
The winner in November will replace Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, who is term-limited after winning four-year terms in 2018 and 2022.
Turner, a Taos resident and owner of Albuquerque-based public relations firm Agenda Global, joined multiple other GOP candidates in Artesia this week to shore up support ahead of the primary.
At a Wednesday, March 18, gathering of about 30 residents and local and state political leaders at Kith and Kin in downtown Artesia, Turner discussed his campaign and why he thinks he should be elected to helm New Mexico’s state government.
The event was hosted by New Mexico Sen. Jim Townsend (R-34) of Artesia and the PY Foundation.
Turner and Rio Rancho Mayor Greg Hull emerged as the Republican frontrunners for governor at the party’s preprimary convention held March 7 in Ruidoso. Turner earned support from 167 delegates, about 24%, while Hull was preferred by 430 delegates, or 55% of those available.
To qualify for the ballot, candidates must receive at least 20% of available delegates at the preprimary or submit petitions with total signatures equal to 2% of voters registered for the last election.
Regardless of who is picked, the GOP candidate for governor will face stiff opposition from across the aisle as two highly visible candidates for the Democratic nomination emerged at their party’s preprimary convention in Mescalero, also held March 7.
Former Congresswoman Deb Haaland, who served as secretary of the interior under former President Joe Biden, was chosen by delegates along with Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman.
Turner, who has never served in statewide public office, said during his speech in Artesia that his lack of political experience gives him a level of optimism lost by career politicians.
“I think what we need in this state is someone who does not have those experiences. I don’t think we want someone who knows the limits of government,” Turner said. “I believe there are no limits. We don’t have the grit to make those hard decisions that will benefit our kids in New Mexico.”
He also blamed Democrats for increased crime throughout New Mexico, pointing to policies that prevent criminal offenders from being held ahead of trial – particularly bail reforms enacted via a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016 that ended cash bail and required courts to hold separate hearings to incarcerate defendants in pre-trial detention.
“This is a real problem. It’s a problem in every part of the state, more in some places than others,” Turner said. “We have this revolving door in the judicial system. It’s not that police officers are not doing their jobs.”
‘Tired of losing’
Also present at Wednesday’s event was Gregory Cunningham of Las Cruces, GOP candidate for U.S. Representative in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. He received 90% of the available delegates at the preprimary convention and said he was confident he would be nominated to challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) in November.
The 2nd District encompasses most of southern New Mexico, including its highly conservative southeast corner. Cunningham said conservative voters throughout southern New Mexico were “frustrated” by state leadership and the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation.
Cunningham retired from the Albuquerque Police Department in 2011 and said his experience both as a law enforcement officer and later as owner of charter flight service Bode Aviation would help solve problems in Washington and build confidence in New Mexico’s conservative voters.
“People are so frustrated. They’re tired of losing. That’s my biggest challenge right now, letting people know who I am and getting that confidence going again,” Cunningham said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting out, meeting people. My skill set is I’m a problem solver; I’m a police officer. It’s just giving people a common goal.”
New Mexico Sen. David Gallegos (R-41) of Eunice, who is running for lieutenant governor, said voters must elect a Republican to succeed Lujan Grisham, who he said is “killing” the state’s oil and gas industry. Oil and gas production accounts for about half of New Mexico’s budget each year and is centered in the southeast Permian Basin region around small cities such as Artesia and Carlsbad.
Lujan Grisham was known throughout her two terms as governor for aggressive environmental policies, such as setting statewide benchmarks for greenhouse gas emissions via a 2019 executive order that required the state to adopt 100% carbon-free energy by 2045.
“New Mexico cannot afford another governor of the quality we have right now,” Gallegos said. “The state will not survive.”
Townsend said Turner and Gallegos would support business and boost New Mexico’s economy.
“I think businesses deserve a chance,” Townsend said. “We have someone running who has inherent life experience to bring this state to where it needs to be, a prosperous state where business is growing.”
Jeremy Kern, project manager at Artesia General Hospital, said low voter turnout in rural areas was a barrier to Republican victories in New Mexico’s congressional and gubernatorial elections.
He pointed to Artesia’s March 3 municipal election, which saw just 1,500 voters cast ballots out of about 8,000 who were registered.
“Our challenge is on the conservative side of voter turnout. We’ve seen that with our local elections,” Kern said. “It could have made a huge difference in the last governor’s race. This time, I think it’s going to be a big challenge. It’s about building that faith back up for registered voters to turn out.”
Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on X.
