ELECTION 2026
Well-funded PACs play hardball in final weeks before primary election
Independent expenditure groups backed by oil executives and out-of-state donors are spending heavily on negative ads
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SANTA FE 鈥� One group is funded by three New Mexico oil executives 鈥� or their companies 鈥� and has sent out hard-hitting mailers highlighting the records of two GOP gubernatorial candidates.
Another group Democrat Sam Bregman鈥檚 personal wealth has gotten most of its $210,000 from a New York City-based accounting firm and an education advocacy company.
Yet another group has effectively shielded the source of its largest donations by listing the name of a nonprofit organization on state-required filings.
Welcome to the run-up to New Mexico鈥檚 primary election, in which several independent expenditure groups, or political action committees that operate separately from candidates and campaigns, have been spending big money on negative TV ads and mailers against candidates running for governor and other statewide races.
The PACs filling up New Mexicans鈥� mailboxes 鈥� and television screens 鈥� are not a new phenomenon, as similar groups have popped up in past election cycles.
Unlike candidates, they are not subject to the state鈥檚 campaign contribution limits, which at $12,400 per person to a gubernatorial candidate per election cycle.
University of New Mexico political science professor Tim Krebs said independent expenditure groups tend to put out mostly negative ad content, allowing candidates to present a more positive message to voters.
鈥淭here鈥檚 supposed to be a firewall between these groups and the campaign,鈥� Krebs told the Journal. 鈥淲hether that鈥檚 the case or not is really difficult to figure out in practice.鈥�
He also said the limited disclosure requirements such groups face in New Mexico 鈥� and other states 鈥� make it hard for voters to figure out who鈥檚 behind them.
鈥淭he information cost for voters is really high,鈥� Krebs said. 鈥淚t would be much nicer if it was easier for voters to figure out what these groups stand for.鈥�
Here鈥檚 a look at some of the groups that have emerged in this year鈥檚 primary election cycle in New Mexico:
Protect our New Mexico PAC
This group was quietly founded last year under the name of Chris Cupit, a Virginia-based political consultant.
But it鈥檚 ramped up its activity significantly over the last month after receiving three $50,000 contributions 鈥� all from individuals involved in New Mexico鈥檚 oil industry.
One of those donors, Strata Production Company, is led by state Rep. Mark Murphy, R-Roswell, who is not seeking reelection this year and has given hefty campaign contributions in past years. The other two donors are Peyton Yates of Artesia and Ray Westall of Loco Hills.
All three donors have also made direct contributions during this year鈥檚 primary cycle to Doug Turner, who is one of three Republicans running for governor.
So far, the group has targeted Duke Rodriguez, one of Turner鈥檚 opponents, with mailers highlighting Rodriguez鈥檚 past voting record in Arizona and previous campaign contributions to Democratic candidates. Rodriguez has insisted he鈥檚 eligible to be elected governor and has weathered two separate legal challenges aimed at knocking him off the ballot.
The group has also sent out mailers targeting Gregg Hull, the third Republican in the race, by questioning whether he鈥檚 a 鈥渢rue conservative.鈥� Specifically, the mailers cite Hull鈥檚 past appointments as Rio Rancho鈥檚 mayor and his endorsement by the Santa Fe New Mexican.
A Turner campaign spokeswoman said Monday the campaign had no affiliation with Protect Our New Mexico PAC.
Be Fierce PAC
This group was registered in April and appears to be supporting Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Deb Haaland鈥檚 campaign.
It reported receiving $150,000 from Lutz and Carr CPAs, a New York-based accounting firm with a history of contributing to Democratic candidates. A Haaland campaign spokeswoman said the candidate 鈥渄oes not have a relationship鈥� with the firm and declined to comment about the PAC鈥檚 activity.
Be Fierce PAC has launched an animated TV attacking Bregman for being a 鈥渕illionaire鈥� and highlighting the residential properties he owns. Those criticisms resemble similar claims previously posted on Haaland鈥檚 campaign website that prompted an irate Bregman to accuse his rival of 鈥渄oxing鈥� his family.
After the latest PAC ads were launched, Bregman issued a news release linking to the effort, saying, 鈥渕y opponent has spent months decrying negative ads, only to launch a PAC dedicated to spreading falsehoods.鈥�
Accountable New Mexico PAC
This group was registered in March and has received funding from several businesses affiliated with members of the New Mexico Racing Commission.
Bregman also previously served on the racing commission and his son Alex, a professional baseball player, started a horse racing company.
More recently, Accountable New Mexico PAC reported receiving $650,000 in contributions from a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group called Stand for New Mexico.
That group has not yet filed with the Internal Revenue Service, according to online records.
Meanwhile, Accountable New Mexico PAC has funded ads highlighting Haaland鈥檚 past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Specifically, Haaland rode on a jet in 2014 that was chartered by Epstein for Gary King, who Haaland was running with on the Democratic ticket in that year鈥檚 race for governor.
Haaland鈥檚 campaign said last month at least one sa国际传媒官网网页入口 network station had agreed to stop airing the ad after receiving a cease-and-desist letter.
However, the group has continued to air TV ads on other network stations in recent weeks, according to public filings.
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.
