近距离内射合集

Gregg Hull isn鈥檛 embracing the frontrunner label in New Mexico鈥檚 Republican primary race for governor quite yet.

With just over three weeks until voters decide which candidates will advance to the November general election, the former Rio Rancho mayor downplayed recent polls that showed him with a lead over his two GOP rivals in the open contest.

鈥淢y focus is continuing to run the race as if I鈥檓 the only candidate in the race or I鈥檓 dead last in the race,鈥� Hull said during a livestreamed Monday Town Hall event at the Journal鈥檚 Ray Cary Auditorium.

鈥淚 try not to focus on all those polls,鈥� he added. 鈥淲hile they鈥檙e nice, I think they can be distracting, so my number one priority is just to continue to press forward, meet with people and run our race.鈥�

Hull, who as Rio Rancho鈥檚 mayor after 12 years on the job, repeatedly called for a pragmatic approach to issues during the 90-minute event that included questions from audience members and Journal staffers.

Specifically, he said he would cautiously scrutinize plans for new data centers, a proposed New Mexico 近距离内射合集 stadium in Albuquerque and increased funding for the state鈥檚 two largest universities to make name, image and likeness payments to some student-athletes.

He also repeatedly referred to his municipal experience, citing Rio Rancho鈥檚 affordability compared to other New Mexico cities 鈥� median home prices in the state鈥檚 third-largest city are far lower than Santa Fe 鈥� and its flat gross receipts tax over the past 10-plus years.

When asked why Rio Rancho has declined to opt in to a 2018 election law aimed at consolidating local elections in New Mexico, Hull said the decision was a strategic one intended to ensure the city could still enforce its voter ID requirement and not have its bond questions listed next to statewide bonds.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important our communities maintain local autonomy wherever possible so we can talk about our own issues,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 very important communities have a voice and they maintain that voice.鈥� 

In response to another question, Hull largely sidestepped his personal views of President Donald Trump, saying he would work with the current president 鈥� or any other president elected in 2028 鈥� if he wins election to the Governor鈥檚 Office. 

鈥淢y commitment is to working with any administration that鈥檚 in authority at the time 鈥� to make sure we鈥檙e getting the maximum benefit we can for the state of New Mexico,鈥� Hull said.

The three-way Republican primary race for governor also includes small business owner Doug Turner and cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez. The contest has been largely cordial to date, with the candidates refraining from direct attacks during two recent candidate debates.

However, that could change with the June 2 primary election rapidly approaching. Early voting in the race is already underway, and is scheduled to expand starting Saturday with the opening of designated early voting sites.

The winner of the GOP primary race will face off this fall against the victor of a heated Democratic primary battle between former U.S. Interior secretary Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. Former Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagishima is also running for governor as an independent.

New Mexico has alternated electing Democrats and Republicans as the state鈥檚 governor over the last 30-plus years, but no GOP candidate has won a statewide race since former Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura did so in 2016.

The state鈥檚 current Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, is barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term in office and will step down at the end of this year.

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.