Haaland Leads in Fundraising for New Mexico Governor Race

Democratic candidate Deb Haaland has raised over $11 million, tripling her opponent Sam Bregman's $3.7 million.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:53pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a lone political campaign sign or podium set against a backdrop of warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of the political process.The high-stakes New Mexico gubernatorial race has drawn significant national attention and resources, with the Democratic frontrunner's fundraising strategy reflecting a broader national campaign approach.Albuquerque Today

The race for New Mexico's next governor has seen a significant fundraising disparity between the Democratic and Republican candidates. Deb Haaland, the Democratic front-runner, has raised $11.1 million, more than three times the $3.7 million raised by her Democratic opponent Sam Bregman. The majority of Haaland's contributions, around 72%, have come from out-of-state donors, including sizable donations from California and Illinois. In contrast, only 30% of Bregman's campaign funds are from outside New Mexico, with his top contributors being local business owners and a former Republican state senator.

Why it matters

The fundraising gap between the Democratic and Republican candidates highlights the national attention and resources being directed towards the New Mexico gubernatorial race. Haaland's ability to raise significant out-of-state funds suggests a broader strategy to build a national campaign network, while Bregman's more local support reflects a more moderate, state-focused approach. The outcome of this race could have implications for the political landscape in New Mexico and potentially influence national politics.

The details

Haaland has raised over $11 million, with about 72% of her contributions coming from out-of-state donors, including $1.7 million from California. Her top contributors include companies owned by Total Wine and Google, as well as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who donated more than $24,000. In contrast, only 30% of Bregman's $3.7 million in campaign funds are from outside New Mexico, with his top contributors being local business owners and a former Republican state senator. Bregman's son, Alex, a professional baseball player for the Chicago Cubs, and his wife have also donated nearly $25,000 to his campaign.

  • The race for New Mexico's next governor is taking place in 2026.

The players

Deb Haaland

The Democratic front-runner in the New Mexico gubernatorial race, who has raised $11.1 million, with a significant portion of her contributions coming from out-of-state donors.

Sam Bregman

Haaland's Democratic opponent in the New Mexico gubernatorial race, who has raised $3.7 million, with the majority of his contributions coming from within the state.

Brian Sanderoff

A KOAT political expert who provided analysis on the fundraising disparity between the Democratic and Republican candidates in the New Mexico gubernatorial race.

JB Pritzker

The Illinois governor who donated more than $24,000 to Haaland's campaign, potentially due to his own presidential aspirations.

Alex Bregman

The professional baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and son of candidate Sam Bregman, who has donated nearly $25,000 to his father's campaign.

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What they’re saying

“The two Democratic candidates have raised ten times more money than three Republican candidates in the gubernatorial race. So, the Democrats have raised a lot of money.”

— Brian Sanderoff, KOAT political expert

“Deb Haaland has raised more than twice as much money as Sam Bregman.”

— Brian Sanderoff, KOAT political expert

“It's not surprising at all that much of her contributions has come from out of state, because she has that national campaign strategy.”

— Brian Sanderoff, KOAT political expert

“He is the more moderate Democrat of the two in this race. So to see him get some of that more moderate support is not surprising.”

— Brian Sanderoff, KOAT political expert

“Much of them were small campaign contributions. But that's been her strategy, to try to get thousands and thousands of people to contribute small amounts of money to build a national network.”

— Brian Sanderoff, KOAT political expert

What’s next

The New Mexico gubernatorial election will take place in November 2026, and the candidates' fundraising efforts will continue to be closely watched in the lead-up to the vote.

The takeaway

The significant fundraising gap between the Democratic and Republican candidates in the New Mexico gubernatorial race highlights the national attention and resources being directed towards this election. Haaland's ability to raise substantial out-of-state funds suggests a broader strategy to build a national campaign network, while Bregman's more local support reflects a more moderate, state-focused approach. The outcome of this race could have implications for the political landscape in New Mexico and potentially influence national politics.