42 www.wpma.com / Fall 2026 State Report NEW MEXICO Petroleum Marketers Association Report Leland Gould NMPMA Executive Director NMPMA NOTES DNC Chairman says New Mexico Poised to Play Leading Role in the 2028 Presidential Primary New Mexico’s days as a flyover state for presidential hopefuls might be over —at least for now. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said New Mexican’s should expect to see presidential candidates “up close and personal” after the DNC approved making New Mexico one of six early states in the 2028 calendar. Whether that means eating green chile stew, rid- ing in hot air balloons or handshakes and selfies at the New Mexico State Fair remains to be seen. The primary lineup pushes Iowa from the traditional top spot and makes South Carolina the leadoff state, voting on January 22, 2028, followed by Nevada on February 1, New Hamp- shire, New Mexico on February15, followed by Michigan and Virigina round out the early states. News Around New Mexico: NM House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton Found Guilty on all Counts: Former New Mexico House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton and co-defendant Joseph Johnson were found guilty on all counts following a trial that set out in detail an elaborate eight- year scheme to steal state and federal education money. Stapleton and Johnson were found guilty on each count they faced, includ- ing bribery, mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each was also convicted on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. In addition, Stapleton was convicted on three counts of fraud and false statements for failing to declare income on her personal tax returns. Stapleton still faces 28 criminal counts in state district court, including racketeering, money laundering, fraud and engaging in an official act for personal financial gain. Haaland Holds big Cash Advantage Over Hull: Deb Haaland is entering the final stage before November’s gen- eral election with a significant cash edge in New Mexico’s open race for governor. The democratic nominee reported having raised roughly $1.1 mil- lion during a four-week period. That fundraising haul brought the balance of her campaign account to nearly $2.3 million—even after spending roughly $11.6 million so far on her campaign. Gregg Hull, her Republican opponent, reported raising more that $349,000 during the recent reporting period. He enters the sum- mer with $297,838 in his campaign account as he seeks to flip control of the Governor’s Office. New Mexico Governor Calls on Lawmakers to approve $250 tax rebates: With just a few months left before she steps down from office, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is calling on state lawmakers to provide a new round of relief for New Mexico taxpayers. Citing the double-edged impact of the recent Iran war, the outgo- ing Democratic governor said legislators should use some of the projected $825 million state budget windfall to provide $250 rebate checks to all state taxpayers. “When the state’s good fortune comes at a direct cost to the people who live here, the appropriate response is to share what we’ve collected,” Lujan Grisham said. Governor’s Rebate Proposal gets Tepid Response from Candidates Vying to Take Her Place in 2027: The two candidates vying to be New Mexico’s next governor are taking a cautious approach to outgoing Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plan for a new round of rebates. With New Mexico set to get an oil-fueled revenue infusion due to the Iran war, Lujan Grisham recently called on lawmakers to authorize rebates of $250 per taxpayer. But neither Democrat Deb Haaland nor Republican Gregg Hull has embraced the $300 million plus idea, with both candidates saying they prefer more long-lasting approaches to providing financial relief to New Mexicans.
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.