Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney, is running in the Democratic primary for governor against former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. The primary is scheduled for June 2, and the general election is set for Nov. 3. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, cannot seek another consecutive term.
The race also includes a Republican primary: Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, former New Mexico Human Services Department Secretary Duke Rodriguez and businessman Doug Turner as declared candidates. In an interview with the Tri-City Record, Bregman said he is concerned about the potential loss of jobs tied to the energy industry in northwest New Mexico and said the state must work to replace any economic losses with new opportunities.
“I’m very concerned about it as well,” Bregman said. “I’m concerned anytime there’s a loss in jobs. People need to be able to support their families. It’s extremely important that we make sure we replace that economic loss with other economic opportunity.”
Bregman said he supports continued success for New Mexico’s oil and gas industry while also calling for expanded renewable energy development, including wind and solar projects.
“I am someone who wants to see our oil and gas industry continue to have success, but also I want to see our renewable energies, wind and solar,” Bregman said. “Our wind farms, our solar farms continue to increase across the state because we should be an energy capital of the world as far as I’m concerned. New Mexico has too many natural resources not to be so.”
The question of how New Mexico manages energy jobs and economic transition could carry weight in San Juan County, where Farmington and surrounding communities have long relied on power generation, oil and gas, and related industries. Bregman said the governor’s office must pay closer attention to communities facing those transitions.
Bregman said he had not spoken directly with Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett about issues facing the city and region. But he said communities such as Farmington and those in San Juan County need direct attention from the governor’s office.
“One of the things I plan on doing is, obviously, when it comes to economic growth, we need to focus on communities like Farmington, communities like that are in San Juan County and McKinley County,” Bregman said.
He said the governor’s office must understand what communities need for infrastructure and economic development.
“We need to make sure that the governor’s office has a clear understanding of what their needs are when it comes to infrastructure and when it comes to the ability to provide economic opportunity for its people,” Bregman said.
Bregman said he would remain open to new ideas for economic growth across the state, including in northwest New Mexico.
“I’m going to be very open-minded on new ideas throughout this state when it comes to spurring our economy,” Bregman said. “We have to get jobs going. We have to train our workforce. We have to have career paths for our kids.”
Bregman pointed to the trades as one area where young people could find long-term work, particularly if the state expands energy production and transmission capacity.
“AI (Artificial Intelligence) isn’t going to turn a wrench,” Bregman said. “We need people to go into the trades. We need our young people to go into the trades like electricians and plumbers and pipe fitters and iron workers.”
Bregman said those fields could become important career paths if New Mexico builds out its energy infrastructure.
“All these things are opportunities in the future,” Bregman said. “And if we have the kind of the energy boom that I am predicting in this state, when it comes to building out our capacity and building out our transmission for energy, we’re going to have wonderful opportunities for our young people all across this state.”
Bregman’s campaign had raised close to $4.6 million by May 4 and earlier said most of his support has come from inside New Mexico. Haaland had raised over $11.9 million. In the Republican race, Hull had raised about $577,00, Rodriguez was just over $1.5 million and Turner had raised about $710,000.
“Eighty percent of my money has come from within this state,” Bregman said.
He contrasted that with Haaland’s campaign fundraising, saying much of her support came from outside New Mexico.
“That’s a clear distinction between the two of us,” Bregman said. “I am very grateful to all the support and all the New Mexicans who have stepped up and helped this campaign because they believe in my vision for the future.”
Bregman said he was in San Juan County in April and has been traveling throughout New Mexico as part of his campaign.
“The campaign’s been going great,” Bregman said. “I am so energized. I’ve been in San Juan County. I’ve been all over this whole state and I feel really good about the way things are going.”
He said he believes the state needs shared direction to move forward.
“It’s going to take everybody pulling the rope the same direction in the state to get us moving in the right direction,” Bregman said. “And that’s what we’re going to do.”