Gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman

From the Sam Bregman for Governor Campaign:

• • • • • Bregman announces sweeping government reform agenda to put New Mexicans first

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman has announced a bold and comprehensive plan to reform New Mexico’s legislative system, modernize state government, and ensure elected leaders are finally accountable to the people they serve.

The plan is centered on three core priorities:

• Ending the career politician cycle;
• Establishing fair pay and longer legislative sessions; and
• Overhauling New Mexico’s outdated capital outlay system.

“For far too long, New Mexico has been last in all the good things and first in all the bad things — and sadly, we’ve grown accustomed to these statistics,” Bregman said. “But we don’t have to accept it. I know we can do better, and we must do better. Families in every corner of our state, no matter their zip code, deserve opportunity, safety, and a brighter future. That starts with reforming our legislature, so it works for the people, not the politicians. With the right leadership, New Mexico can finally move from the bottom of the rankings to the top, where we belong.”

Bregman’s plan tackles one of New Mexico’s most persistent challenges: a legislature dominated by long-serving incumbents who face few structural limits on their time in office.

When elected as Governor, Bregman will:

• Work with lawmakers to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot establishing term limits for the legislature; and
• Support replacing the outdated 30-day and 60-day session model with yearly 90-day sessions, providing adequate time necessary to govern effectively and transparently.

“By keeping the same people in power decade after decade, we’ve missed out on the next generation of leaders with fresh ideas and the energy to tackle today’s challenges,” Bregman added.

New Mexico is the only state in the country with a volunteer legislature — a system that makes it extremely difficult for working New Mexicans to run for office while limiting who gets to serve.

When elected Governor, Bregman will work with the legislature to:

• Establish an independent body to set legislative salaries, removing the conflict of interest from lawmakers themselves; and
• Provide legislators a salary aligned with New Mexico’s median income.

These changes would open the doors of public service to more working families and ensure lawmakers have the time and capacity to fully debate and advance important legislation.

In addition, New Mexico’s capital outlay process has long operated as a system shaped by political favors, leaving millions of dollars in unspent funds and critical community projects delayed or ignored.

When elected Governor, Bregman will work with the legislature to:

• Establish clear, public-facing criteria for project selection so decisions reflect community needs rather than political influence; and
• Require all new capital outlay projects to be included in the state budget, where they can be openly debated, prioritized, and held accountable.

“Our capital outlay process should be a tool for long-term community investment — not a political bargaining chip,” Bregman said. “We need a system that makes every dollar count.”

Bregman emphasized that these reforms are essential to building a government that matches the talent, grit, and possibility of New Mexicans themselves.

“We are a state full of promise,” Bregman said. “With the right priorities, we can build a New Mexico that lifts everyone up instead of holding us back.”

For more information on Sam Bregman’s Blueprint for New Mexico, visit www.bregmanfornm.com.