NM Democratic governor candidates Haaland, Bregman participate in only primary election debate

The sole Democratic gubernatorial primary debate in New Mexico featured former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. Held at Central New Mexico Community College before the June 2 primary, the candidates largely agreed on issues like immigration and childcare but diverged significantly on environmental concerns, including data center projects and water resource management. When addressing large-scale data center developments, such as Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, Bregman highlighted potential benefits like construction jobs and the acceleration of clean energy, advocating for a balanced approach to economic development and environmental protection. Haaland, however, expressed skepticism, arguing that data centers should strictly adhere to the state's Energy Transition Act and avoid gas-powered microgrids, questioning their transparency and commitment to community interests. The debate also touched on the controversial issue of wastewater from oil and gas operations, known as "produced water," with Haaland emphasizing scientific uncertainty and potential dangers to drinking water, while Bregman called for ensuring it's cleaned and reused cautiously. Finally, candidates discussed the proposed acquisition of PNM, New Mexico's largest electric utility, by Blackstone. Haaland voiced concerns about private equity firms' focus on shareholders over community investments, while Bregman acknowledged the utility's need for funding to meet renewable energy goals but stressed the importance of "ironclad" conditions to prevent rate increases.