New Mexico – In a television spot released on Sept. 10, Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Deb Haaland promised to work with anyone to tackle the state’s pressing affordability challenges. The ad, titled “I’ll Work With Anyone,” focuses on three core issues: housing, healthcare and rising utility costs.
Policy proposals and bipartisan tone
Haaland cited her record of bringing Democrats and Republicans together while serving New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District. She said, “New Mexicans across the state are doing everything they can and they are still struggling to make ends meet. As governor, I’ll deliver more affordable healthcare, housing, utilities, and more to create a New Mexico where everyone can thrive.”
To address the housing shortage, Haaland pointed to a recent New Mexico Housing report that projects a 58,000‑unit deficit and an increasing need for affordable homes through 2045, especially in Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties. She said her plan would strengthen renter protections, enforce tenant rights, speed up approval times for housing projects and reduce Wall Street’s influence in the state’s real‑estate market.
Hull’s contrasting approach
Republican challenger Gregg Hull, former mayor of Rio Rancho, warned against a one‑size‑fits‑all state intervention in zoning and permitting. Hull argued that partnering with local municipalities to lower development costs is a more effective way to increase housing supply. He emphasized that local control should remain the primary driver of zoning decisions.
Healthcare costs on the rise
At the start of September, the New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance announced a 24% increase in the average premium for the state’s health‑insurance marketplace, BeWell, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Superintendent Alice Kane said the increase reflects actuarially sound, non‑discriminatory pricing.
Hull’s campaign website calls for “practical reforms” such as expanding rural access, lowering prescription‑drug costs and creating health‑care compacts to bring more providers into the state. Haaland, meanwhile, linked the issue to President Donald Trump’s recent Medicaid reforms, arguing that federal changes have destabilized New Mexico’s health‑care system. Her plan includes expanding compacts, deploying mobile health clinics, banning medical debt from credit reports and using surplus state revenue to fill Medicaid gaps.
Polling and fundraising snapshot
The Albuquerque Journal’s Aug. 20 poll showed Haaland with a six‑point advantage – 49% to Hull’s 43% – and a fundraising edge, with Haaland’s campaign raising $12 million in the Democratic primary and an additional $750,000 since, compared with Hull’s $323,000.
Affordability as a campaign flashpoint
Both candidates have kept the tone relatively civil as the election draws nearer, but affordability remains a central voter concern. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s proposal to use oil‑and‑gas tax revenue for a $250 energy rebate sparked a Republican call to eliminate the state personal‑income tax – a measure Hull also supports, citing examples from other states that have boosted local economies.
In a white‑paper titled “An Affordable New Mexico,” Haaland outlined a broader affordability agenda that includes raising the minimum wage, lowering grocery prices through locally grown foods, and connecting families with existing tax credits and assistance programs.
Looking ahead
With just over two months left before the Nov. 8 general election, New Mexicans will weigh each candidate’s approach to housing, health‑care and utility costs against their broader visions for the state’s future. Haaland’s emphasis on bipartisan collaboration and concrete policy steps aims to appeal to voters seeking practical solutions, while Hull’s focus on local control and tax reform offers an alternative path.
Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
