- Open House, Senate races at stake in New Mexico primary
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Seven Democratic contenders for Congress including a famous former CIA operative, a district attorney and a professional advocate for Native American communities are facing off Tuesday in a likely decisive congressional primary in northern New Mexico. Polls are opening amid the coronavirus pandemic as election officials saw a surge in absentee balloting ahead of Election Day. U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan is leaving his congressional seat as the presumptive Democratic nominee to succeed retiring Sen. Tom Udall. Republicans were picking favorites in hopes of winning back a congressional swing district in southern New Mexico and seizing control of Udall's Senate seat in the November general election.
- New Mexico Senate leaders look to hang on in primary
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Liberal advocacy groups are angling to unseat some of New Mexico's longtime legislative leaders. In Tuesday's primary, progressive candidates are facing off with fellow Democrats who are in key Senate leaderships posts, including chamber President Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces and finance leader John Arthur Smith of Deming. Clemente Sanchez of Grants, George Muñoz of Gallup and Gabriel Ramos of Silver City also have challengers. Critics say the incumbent lawmakers have resisted spending increases and watered down a House-approved version of the state's 2019 minimum wage hike. Democrats hold a 46-24 majority in the House and a 26-16 advantage in the Senate.
- 3 new members appointed to New Mexico Spaceport Authority
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed three new members to the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and re-appointed three other members. The Spaceport Authority is administratively attached to the New Mexico Economic Development Department. It consists of eight members with six appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate. The lieutenant-governor and the cabinet secretary of the Economic Development Department are also members. By statute, no more than three of the appointed members shall belong to the same political party. The three new appointees are Ethan Epstein of Los Rancho, Peggy Johnson of Williamsburg and Eric Schindwolf of Tijeras. The members reappointed are Michelle Coons of Albuquerque, Laura Conniff of Las Cruces and Richard Holdridge of Deming.
- Biden looks to clinch nomination as 7 states, DC vote
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (AP) — Joe Biden is hoping to seize the delegates needed to formally clinch the Democrats' presidential nomination as seven states and one territory vote. Tuesday's elections will be the largest slate of presidential primaries in almost three months. Voters and campaigns alike will be asked to navigate curfews, health concerns and a sharp increase in mail balloting as voting takes place from Maryland to Montana. Many political groups are focusing on Pennsylvania, which represents a high-profile test case for the November general election. Biden needs to win 89% of all delegates at stake on Tuesday to formally clinch the nomination.
- New Mexico virus cases top 7,800, with 6 additional deaths
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials are reporting an additional 113 positive tests for the novel coronavirus as the state begins easing some of the restrictions that had been placed on businesses to limit spread. Officials said Monday that the state now has 7,800 cases, with more than half of those originating in McKinley and San Juan counties. The death toll is now 362. Six new deaths were reported Monday, with one of those involving an inmate in state custody in Otero County who had underlying conditions. Monday marked the first day restaurants could resume indoor seating at 50% occupancy under an amended public health order.
- Albuquerque mayor blames 'agitators' for gunshots, violence
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The mayor of New Mexico's largest city is blaming small groups what he called agitators for violence that broke out hours after a peaceful protest in downtown Albuquerque. Dozens of small fires were set, windows were broken and police officers say they were fired upon early Monday. Mayor Tim Keller says Albuquerque welcomes protests but that gunfire and violence cross the line. On Sunday evening, several hundred people took part in a march along historic Route 66 in protest of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Protesters gathered again Monday night, braving the rain to march along the same road near the University of New Mexico.
- New Mexico utility seeks to decouple electric rates, costs
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's largest electric provider is asking state regulators to consider a proposal that would allow it to recover fixed service costs independent of how much electricity is actually consumed by customers. Public Service Co. of New Mexico is pointing to uncertainty amid the coronavirus as it pursues what is known as decoupling. The utility recently filed its request with the Public Regulation Commission after announcing its intensions to shareholders in May. If approved, the utility will tally how much customers paid for electricity throughout 2021 and then compare that with the annual revenue it is allowed to collect to cover its costs.
- Primaries become test run for campaigning during coronavirus
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Tuesday's primary elections in eight states are both significant elections and big tests of campaigning during the age of coronavirus. Both major political parties have been revamping their operations to adjust to politics during lockdowns. Some campaigns have gotten volunteers to hand-write letters to try to turn out supporters. Others are shifting money into television budgets, figuring an electorate largely stuck at home is binge-watching. Many have shifted their resources to back an ad hoc tech support model, assembling seasoned advisers who can talk nervous voters step-by-step through the process of requesting absentee ballots.