Around the Roundhouse

New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session is less than two weeks away and the Legislative Finance Committee just released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027. The committee’s $11.1 billion spending plan is similar to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s but doesn’t fully fund the governor’s free universal child care initiative.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rep. Nathan Small, the LFC chair, joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the committee’s budget proposal. He delves into how the committee develops its budget recommendations, highlights its prio...

Duke Rodriguez officially launched his candidacy for governor of New Mexico earlier this month by making the announcement in newspaper advertisements across the state. A former state human services Cabinet secretary who is now among New Mexico's most successful cannabis entrepreneurs, Rodriguez is the latest of three Republicans to announce a run for the highest office in the state.

In this week’s episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rodriguez joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to explain why he has decided to run for governor, respond to questions about his...

Shel Neymark helped found the Embed Valley Library in Dixon in 1992 and, over the years, has seen it become a cornerstone of the small community. It’s a place to not only check out books, but also serves as a gathering place and a link to connect residents with resources that support their well-being.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Neymark joins Santa Fe New Mexican state government reporter Clara Bates to discuss his continued work to provide New Mexico’s rural libraries with the funding they need to continue their important work.

Neymark...

Economists with the state of New Mexico delivered what Rep. Nathan Small, chair of the Legislative Finance Committee, called a “very sobering" revenue forecast to lawmakers Monday, with projections of total new money being revised down to $105.7 million from an August projection of $484.8 million. For a state that has been awash in new money in recent years, the latest forecast pointed to a change in momentum.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Legislative Finance Committee Director Charles Sallee speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to provide more info...

While running a business coaching firm with her husband in Albuquerque, Nicole Tobiassen said she often hears complaints from her clients that it’s becoming harder and harder to be a business owner in New Mexico. Part of her coaching involves encouraging clients to be part of the solution, advice she said she took to heart when making the decision to run for public office.

A rare Republican representing Albuquerque in the state Senate, the first-term legislator is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, the Legislative Finance Committee and now on a new public safety task fo...

A fresh face in state politics, Cam Crawford was elected vice chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in April and is working to build momentum for Democrats in an already blue state.

On the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, the 20-something firefighter and substitute teacher joined Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak about his background and his goals for the party.

The son of a police officer and a nurse, Crawford said he visited New Mexico as a teen and knew he wanted to li...

The Republican Party has been dormant in Rio Arriba County for years, with Democratic candidates frequently running unopposed in local races and the number of registered Democrats dwarfing the number of Republicans in the county by well over a 2-to-1 margin. A former Democrat is looking to change that.

Patricia Salazar was born and raised a Democrat but registered as a Republican about two years ago. She showed up to a party meeting Saturday in Chama just looking to connect with other Republicans and ended up leaving as the Rio Arriba County Republican Party chairwoman.

...

Michael Garcia earned a decisive victory in Santa Fe’s crowded mayoral race Tuesday night and has made a commitment to voters to improve transparency and accountability at City Hall. He’s already making moves to prepare to take the reins, putting in place members of a transition team and discussing priorities for his first months on the job.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Garcia speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican senior politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about what the past couple of days have been like since his win and the pressur...

New Mexico has the highest rate of SNAP participation in the country, with over 450,000 people receiving support through the federally funded food assistance program. The federal government has told states the benefits will run out in November if the federal shutdown persists, leaving local and state leaders bracing for the impact of a potential freeze of the program if a resolution isn’t achieved before Nov. 1.

On the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Jason Riggs, advocacy and public policy director for Roadrunner Food Bank in...

Ken Miyagishima has run in 14 elections and won 11 of them, including being voted mayor of Las Cruces for four consecutive terms that he served from 2007-2023. The self-described political moderate has an uphill battle to translate his election success to the statewide level as he faces two candidates in the Democratic primary for New Mexico governor who have greater name recognition and far more campaign funds. But Miyagishima says he still likes his chances.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Miyagishima about b...

New Mexico’s No. 1 ranking in MIT’s Election Performance Index that was released last year is something state election officials have proudly touted, but many are working to improve the state’s elections even further.

Observe New Mexico Elections (ONME) is a nonpartisan observation effort that does work to increase trust and transparency in the state’s elections. Supported by The Carter Center, the organization trains and deploys nonpartisan election observers in precincts throughout New Mexico to report on how election laws and procedures are followed. Findings from the observations are then compiled to assess the overall...

Letitia Montoya says collecting stray shopping carts dispersed throughout a city is a great way to understand a community and its issues.

That’s what she’s been doing with her husband, Michael Segura, since June of 2023 through their company, Nebula Advisers LLC. The company is contracted by the city to collect and return stray carts to grocers and retailers. In the process, Montoya says she interacts with people from all walks of life, from members of the homeless population to business owners and shoppers. The experience, Montoya says, has greatly informed her campaign for mayor and her...

Jeanne O’Dean was the last candidate to enter the race for Santa Fe mayor and lacks the name recognition of others who are running, but she hopes her background in “disruptive innovation” resonates with voters enough to send her to City Hall.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” host Daniel J. Chacón speaks with O’Dean about her plans for the city and asks her why she feels the electorate should choose her.

O’Dean talks about initiatives she hopes to accomplish, including building 1,000 affordable adobe homes, through the backing of significant phi...

Tarin Nix has had a taste of winning in New Mexico as a political consultant, including guiding Stephanie Garcia Richard to successful campaigns for the state House and, later, for state land commissioner. Now serving as the deputy commissioner of public affairs for the State Land Office, Nix is vying to win her own race in a crowded field of candidates running to be Santa Fe’s next mayor.

Nix joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón on the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to share her vision for the city and discu...

Oscar Rodriguez is a former finance director for the city of Santa Fe who has spent 30 years of his career in the public sector. He says his experiences serving in city management in communities large and small have given him the skills needed to be mayor of Santa Fe. 

Rodriguez joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak about his background and share his views on issues impacting the city in the latest of a series of interviews with Santa Fe mayoral candidates on the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast.

An enroll...

JoAnne Vigil Coppler has served for two Santa Fe mayors and two New Mexico governors during her career and has worked in every branch of government. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” she touts her decades of experience as what will give her the edge in her second campaign to be Santa Fe’s mayor. 

Vigil Coppler finished runner-up to Alan Webber in the 2021 election and said she gained a lot from the experience that she can lean on in her current campaign. She said she feels more comfortable being herself, sharing her message and handlin...

A chaotic first day as a foster parent dealing with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department led Maralyn Beck to have a panic attack after thinking a baby had been lost due to a failure of communication by the department. Things didn’t get better from there, and the serious issues she witnessed and learned of in the months to follow led her to found a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care and empowering those who serve them. Beck, who is the executive director of the New Mexico Child First Network, ha...

Former Santa Fe City Councilor Ron Trujillo had an unsuccessful run for mayor in 2018, finishing second to Alan Webber. Trujillo has been a vocal critic of Webber during his two terms in office, especially concerning cultural issues and what he feels is a degradation of basic services. 

Trujillo is back on the campaign trail as one of eight candidates who are looking to succeed Webber as Santa Fe’s top leader. He joined Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss his background and his stance on some...

Alisha Tafoya Lucero was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be the secretary of the New Mexico Department of Corrections in 2019 and has served in that role for more than six years. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” she joins Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak on her path to becoming Corrections Department secretary and the work she has done during her time in the role. 

Tafoya Lucero speaks about her focus on reentry programs to help give inmates the skills and education to enter the workforce after their time i...

Ray Sandoval has been involved with Burning of Zozobra since he was 6 years old and took over as event chairman for the Santa Fe spectacle in 2012. He’s been involved in a firestorm ahead of the 2025 burning due to the recent removal of 12 Siberian elm trees for safety concerns, an action that has drawn sharp criticism from some members of the community.

Sandoval joined Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón on Wednesday in the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss the reasoning and process behind the removal. He talks about the timeline of events...

Sam LeDoux has worked on the campaigns and political teams of some big names in New Mexico and the nation, including former Gov. Susana Martinez, the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. LeDoux was elected to serve on the city council of his hometown of Española in March of 2024, and he says he’s seen a lot of dysfunction in his relatively short time in local politics, particularly in the past couple of months. 

LeDoux joined “Around the Roundhouse” this week to share his view on the chao...

Roger Montoya has been a stalwart in the Española Valley for decades in his effort to help lead youth on the right path by connecting them with artistic outlets. Recognized as a CNN Hero in 2019, Montoya remains deeply involved in Moving Arts Española, the nonprofit organization he co-founded 18 years ago, as he continues the mission of setting up young people in rural communities for a life of success.

Montoya joined “Around the Roundhouse” on Wednesday afternoon before the premiere of “Moving Arts: Setting Hearts Ablaze,” a documentary by DocuFilms that shows the positive impact Moving Arts Españ...

Michael Garcia has been a vocal critic of Mayor Alan Webber in his time serving as a city councilor and is now seeking to succeed Webber in office and push to achieve his vision for his hometown of Santa Fe.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Garcia in the second of a series of interviews with Santa Fe’s seven mayoral candidates.

Garcia shares some of his background, including his Santa Fe roots and his work for Americorps VISTA, a federal service p...

State Rep. Matthew McQueen has served six terms in the Legislature and he now has his sights set on statewide office. The Galisteo Democrat has thrown his hat in the ring for state land commissioner and is one of three candidates looking to replace Stephanie Garcia Richard, who is term-limited and running for lieutenant governor. 

McQueen, who announced his candidacy for state land commissioner this week, spoke with Santa Fe New Mexican senior politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss his decision to run. 

McQueen discusses his law...

Santa Fe County Commissioner Justin Greene on Wednesday formally announced his candidacy for the mayor of the city of Santa Fe, becoming the seventh person to enter the race to succeed Mayor Alan Webber. Greene joined Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón Thursday for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” in the first of a series of interviews with Santa Fe’s mayoral candidates.

Greene, who said he moved to Santa Fe after he finished college 32 years ago, discusses his background in business, architecture and development and how he feels his experiences could he...

A progressive Democrat from Santa Fe, Brian Egolf served in the New Mexico state Legislature from 2009 to 2022 and was the House speaker for five years. He chose not to run again at the end of his last term and has been out of politics for the past three years. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón catches up with Egolf to see what he misses and doesn’t miss about life as a legislator. The 48-year-old attorney shares how a road trip to national parks with his daughte...

Demonstrations against President Donald Trump have taken place across the country in the first months of his second term in office as citizens opposed to his policies have protested against what they call authoritarian actions. On Saturday, June 14, a nationwide “No Kings” protest is planned in nearly 2,000 locations, including Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The mass demonstration falls on the same day as Flag Day and a military parade in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army. It’s also Trump’s birthday. 

On the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Dr. Heidi Li Feldman joins...

Rebecca Dow defeated a Democratic incumbent to win House District 38 in November to return to the New Mexico Legislature after an unsuccessful run for the Republican nomination for governor in 2022. Dow’s win was the only flip of a state House seat in 2024, but she sees opportunities for Republicans to gain more ground in New Mexico in coming elections.

Dow, who lives in Truth or Consequences, joins Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss her House seat victory, the race for governor, her thoughts on the 202...

Joseph Maestas has spent much of his life in public service, with time as a city councilor in Española and Santa Fe, the mayor of Española and a member of the Public Regulation Commission. He says his current job, state auditor, has been the most rewarding as he works to safeguard taxpayer money across the state.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Maestas joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior political reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss his background, his current role as auditor and his plans for the future.

Serving in his...

Even before she was elected to be the new chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in late April, Sara Attleson was traveling the state and spreading the message of party unity while visiting 22 of New Mexico’s 33 counties. She has continued her travels in her first month on the job, saying her focus is to show up and listen.

Attleson joined Santa Fe New Mexican senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to share her mission for the state’s Democratic Party and talks about the work she’...

New Mexico’s careless driving statute returned to the spotlight recently with the tragic death of 75-year-old Glen Smith, who was struck and killed by a city bus driver operating a city-owned vehicle while Smith was sitting on a bus stop bench near the Santa Fe Place mall. Police investigators believe there is reason to charge the driver with careless driving, a petty misdemeanor. They didn’t, however, because the crash occurred on private property.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican public safety reporter Nicholas Gilmore speaks to state Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas...

New Mexico state Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, was a co-sponsor of a contentious paid family and medical leave bill that stalled out in the Senate Finance Committee during this year's 60-day legislative session after it had passed through the House. A different paid family and medical leave bill last year passed the Senate but narrowly failed in the House. 

Chandler joined Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Margaret O'Hara for the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse" to discuss the changes and compromises that were implemented to the most recent version of the bill and shares her tho...

New Mexico received a No. 1 ranking in MIT’s Election Performance Index last year, a mark Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver takes pride in. She won a special election in 2016 after former Secretary of State Dianna Duran resigned amid fraud and embezzlement charges, and Toulouse Oliver has worked to rebuild the public’s trust in the office in the ensuing years.

She joined Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss election integrity in New Mexico, concerns about artificial intelligence, the state’s switch to sem...

Howie Morales served 11 years in the New Mexico Senate and has been lieutenant governor since 2019. In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks to Morales about his role in the Roundhouse working with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and his thoughts on a possible run for the Democratic nomination for governor. Morales discusses his decision between a run for governor and applying to be the president of Western New Mexico University, which is in his hometown of Silver City. He talks about what he learned from his previous attempt at r...

A freshman state senator from Rio Rancho, Republican Jay Block made headlines during his first legislative session by introducing a plan to create an office in New Mexico similar to the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. In 2022, Block was also in the spotlight when he ran to be the GOP candidate in the governor’s race. He recently joined Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss what lies ahead for his DOGE-like idea and to share his thoughts on the 2026 governor’s race, including if he pla...

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman formally launched his bid for New Mexico governor Thursday in Las Vegas, N.M. The Albuquerque Democrat joins host Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss his decision to join the race and share his vision for the state.

Bregman spoke about how he plans to balance his role as DA with campaigning for the state’s top office. Chacón also asks Bregman about former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the only other person to declare for the race so far, and how he p...

New Mexico was in the national headlines over the weekend as a suspected act of arson resulted in a scorched entryway at the state Republican Party’s Albuquerque headquarters. Local and federal agencies are conducting an investigation into the incident. 

Amy Barela, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, spoke with Santa Fe New Mexican state government reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the apparent act of arson and the current tumultuous political climate during the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse.” 

Also in the episode, Barela discusses her path to politics and what led her t...

The 2025 New Mexico legislative session is in the books and the politicians, staffers and lobbyists have cleared out of the Roundhouse. On the final day, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Republican legislators were critical of what they said was a lack of public safety legislation to come out of the session.

Santa Fe New Mexican columnist Milan Simonich appears on the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to share his take on what went down. Guest host and New Mexican state government and policy reporter Margaret O’Hara chats with Simonich to learn his biggest takeaways.

Simonic...

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, is in charge of steering the ship when it comes to setting the agenda in the chamber and deciding what bills make it to the floor during New Mexico's legislative session. He joined New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón on Thursday morning to offer his assessment on what’s been accomplished in this year’s 60-day session and what legislation may still be considered before the session comes to a close at noon Saturday. 

Wirth, who has been the Senate majority leader for nine years, talks about the importance of col...

Nicole Chavez’s life changed forever in 2015 when her teenage son Jaydon was killed in a drive-by shooting. The tragedy and ensuing drawn-out judicial process in prosecuting those responsible for her son’s death sparked her interest in advocacy and politics. The first-term Republican state representative joins “Around the Roundhouse” to share how the experience has led her on a path to fighting for stiffer penalties for juvenile offenders and also for stronger rehabilitation programs so those who are released from incarceration are integrated into society rather than falling back to a life of crime. 

Chavez also talks abo...

Sen. Leo Jaramillo has been in the New Mexico Legislature since 2021 and serves as vice chair of the Senate Rules Committee. He’s had a winding path through his professional career, starting as a TV news writer and producer before becoming a teacher and now a staff operations manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Jaramillo joins “Around the Roundhouse” to talk about his journey through life, including how being involved on cheer teams gave him a boost of confidence when he was younger and how a teacher helped inspire him to become involved in politics. He also discus...

Stefani Lord and John Block are two of the most outspoken members of the state’s Republican House caucus and have developed quite a reputation in the Legislature. The two lawmakers, who share an office, join the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss their close friendship, how they get along with members of both parties, and whether they think their reputation is warranted. 

Lord, R-Sandia Park, and Block, R-Alamogordo, also discuss their thoughts on President Donald Trump’s first weeks back in office. Host Daniel J. Chacón gets their reactions to the federal funding cuts and f...

Angel Charley is a mother of three, an advocate, an organizer and the first Native American female to represent Senate District 30. The Democrat from Laguna Pueblo joins “Around the Roundhouse” to speak about her experience through the first 30 days of the 60-day legislative session as she balances her roles as a working mother and first-term senator.

Charley provides an overview of the legislation she is sponsoring, including a bill to create a Turquoise Alert system to help locate missing Native Americans in New Mexico and a bill to establish criteria for comprehensive sex education for students from grad...

Fresh off formally launching her campaign for New Mexico governor, Deb Haaland took time to speak with Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel Chacón to share why she has decided to join the race. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” the former congresswoman and U.S. interior secretary talks about how her lived experiences — including her financial struggles as a single mother — have shaped her politics and helped her relate with people across the state.

Haaland, a Democrat who is a member of Laguna Pueblo, spoke about her priority of bringing down the cost of h...

From an advocate, to a legislative staffer, to the majority floor leader of the state House of Representatives, Reena Szczepanski has experienced New Mexico politics from a variety of perspectives. The Santa Fe Democrat joins “Around the Roundhouse” to share her story about her path to leadership and her push for representation throughout her career. 

Szczepanski shares what it was like to work with former House Speaker Brian Egolf as his chief of staff and how her time as a staffer and advocate has helped her in her current role. She also discusses her biggest priorities for the 6...

In this week's episode of "Around the Roundhouse," host Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer to ask him about his skills at filibustering and his objectives for the Republican caucus for the 60-day legislative session. 

Sharer, who is from Farmington and represents District 1, speaks about the challenges and opportunities of organizing a Republican Senate caucus that has 10 new members. He also talks about the struggles the party has had in messaging, saying that Republicans have allowed Democrats to define them to New Mexicans rather than Republicans defining themselves. 

The discussion als...

In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," state Sen. Crystal Brantley joins the show to offer an overview of the legislation she'll be supporting during the 60-day session, including increased penalties for fentanyl dealers and incentives to support schools in efforts to reduce cellphone use in the classroom.

Brantley, a Republican from Elephant Butte, shares how having kids spurred her to get involved in politics. She also offers her thoughts on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's State of the State address, saying she agreed with much of what the governor said but wants to see action from...

In the first episode of "Around the Roundhouse," House Speaker Javier Martínez joins host and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to preview New Mexico's 60-day legislative session.

Martínez, a Democrat from Albuquerque, shares a bit about himself including his upbringing along the U.S.-Mexico border, and speaks about how his background influences his perspective as a lawmaker. He also discusses the House Democrats' priorities heading into the session, from a focus on public safety and behavioral health to a reform of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. Martínez speaks abou...