New Mexico gubernatorial and lieutenant governor race updates

New Mexico's lieutenant governor candidates, Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard and Republican David Gallegos, participated in a televised debate addressing key state issues. Garcia Richard emphasized healthcare access, affordability, and a proposed moratorium on AI data centers to protect water resources and prevent energy costs from falling on ratepayers. Gallegos focused on public safety, economic development, and reducing government regulation, suggesting that data centers could utilize nuclear reactors to supply their own electricity and return power to the grid.

Separately, gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland has announced she will not participate in upcoming debates for the New Mexico governor's race. Tim Krebs, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico, noted that candidates are increasingly avoiding debates to maintain control over their messaging and mitigate the risk of viral mistakes in a digital media landscape. Krebs suggested that while skipping debates is becoming a trend in U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races, the format remains vital for providing information to undecided voters.