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Nine candidates have filed to run for Albuquerque mayor
Tim Keller
Published
Modified
Ballots for the 2025 municipal elections may be getting longer by the day.
City records show that nine people have filed to run for Albuquerque mayor, with crime, homelessness and an uncertain economic future being top issues among city residents.
Nine is a high number of candidates, which means that a runoff election could be held in the future if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. But not all nine are guaranteed a spot on the ballot. That鈥檚 because each candidate must collect 3,000 signatures by June 21 to lock in their position.
Saturday is the first day for mayoral candidates to collect those signatures.
Here鈥檚 a little about each candidate:
Alpana Adair
Alpana Adair is a human resources professional.
She previously worked for a hospitality consulting firm and moved to the Albuquerque area three years ago. , she states that she wants to reduce juvenile crime, create more jobs, and improve residents鈥� quality of life.
Mayling Armijo
Mayling Armijo is the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.
, she lists her priorities as crime, housing and homelessness, substance abuse, job growth, and setting term limits for the mayor鈥檚 office.
Brian Fejer
Brian Fejer, an Albuquerque resident, does not have a campaign website. Instead, he has a Substack blog entitled 鈥淟a Politica鈥� with a post called 鈥淏rian Fejer for ABQ Mayor 2025,鈥� which has the subheading 鈥淭his is satire.鈥�
, Fejer says he would declare a 鈥減ublic mental health emergency,鈥� focusing on the fentanyl crisis. He also calls for the creation of an Albuquerque subway system.
Tim Keller
Tim Keller is the incumbent mayor, seeking a third term in office.
that his next term will focus on combating crime and homelessness while prioritizing redevelopment and housing. Other mayors have served three terms, but Keller would be the first to serve three consecutive terms.
Patrick Sais
ran unsuccessfully for the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2024 and for mayor in 2021.
His campaign website states that he鈥檚 focused on 鈥渆nhancing public safety, improving educational opportunities and promoting sustainable economic growth.鈥�
Louie Sanchez
currently represents City Council District 1 on Albuquerque鈥檚 West Side.
A staunch critic of Keller and Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina, Sanchez鈥檚 campaign website calls for 鈥渟afer communities,鈥� 鈥渁 stronger community鈥� and 鈥渟olutions for homelessness.鈥� Sanchez is a former APD police officer.
Alexander Uballez
was most recently the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico but resigned at the request of President Donald Trump. Uballez has also served as a prosecutor for the 2nd Judicial District Attorney鈥檚 Office.
Uballez is the latest candidate to enter the race. On his campaign website, he said that public safety and 鈥渃utting through red tape鈥� to increase the housing stock would be top priorities.
Eddie Varela
is a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief.
Varela鈥檚 website lists six issues, including safety, homelessness, transparency, seniors, youth and small businesses.
Darren White
is the former sheriff of Bernalillo County.
His campaign website said he鈥檒l prioritize crime, homelessness and what he called government efficiency.
