Attorney General of New Mexico · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the New Mexico attorney general race?
Raúl Torrez has the strongest record in the New Mexico attorney general race. Raúl Torrez scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Raúl Torrez's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Sam Kane (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Sam Kane
On the ballot as Samuel Isaiah Kane, Sr
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Raúl Torrez
On the ballot as Raul Torrez
68 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 60
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Sam Kane
- On the record2026
Disclosed in the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire that his business was told in 2026 it owed about $1,000 for a 2024 state filing; he says it was paid and believes it resulted in a tax lien.
- On the record2004 to 2026
Has run his own Las Cruces law practice since 2004 after clerking for Senior U.S. District Judge Robert C. Brack, and has worked as a contractor for the Law Offices of the Public Defender.
Raúl Torrez
- On the record2026
Investigated and sued the state Children, Youth and Families Department under a governor of his own party, and backed environmental groups against state agencies over the Project Jupiter data center.
Sources: Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
- On the record2026-09
Held a public town hall in Las Cruces in September 2026 and promised to spend more time in southern New Mexico.
- On the record2026
His office is pursuing a state criminal investigation of events at Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch and has sued the U.S. Justice Department for related records.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
- Credit2026-03 to 2026-08
His office's suit against Meta led to a $375 million jury verdict in March 2026 and a $567 million abatement order from a state judge in August 2026.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal, Aug. 6, 2026, Santa Fe New Mexican via Yahoo News, Sept. 19, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Sam Kane. Campaign finance reports are on file with the state, reported by the Albuquerque Journal from the latest filings. No official ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Raúl Torrez. Campaign finance reports are on file with the state, reported by the Albuquerque Journal from the latest filings. No official ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. As attorney general has been highly critical of the Children, Youth and Families Department under Democratic Gov. Lujan Grisham, publishing an investigative report and suing the department, and sided with environmental groups against state agencies over Project Jupiter.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. Held an in-person town hall at Doña Ana Community College in September 2026 and gave interviews to Source NM and the Albuquerque Journal. No general election debate found.
Sources: Santa Fe New Mexican via Yahoo News, Sept. 19, 2026, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. Federal prosecutor, Bernalillo County district attorney from 2017 to 2022 and attorney general since 2023. No censure or formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. Took the oath as Bernalillo County district attorney and as attorney general. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Raul Torrez
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Sam Kane. Has run his own law practice in Las Cruces since 2004, mainly personal injury, after clerking for Senior U.S. District Judge Robert C. Brack, and has worked as a contractor for the public defender. Has not been a prosecutor or held public office.
Raúl Torrez. Attorney general since January 2023, completing a full term, after serving as Bernalillo County district attorney and a federal prosecutor.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Raul Torrez, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Sam Kane. Names crime as his top priority, proposes a technology tool to speed pretrial detention reviews and would end the office's practice of joining multistate suits against the federal government; positions stated in general terms.
Raúl Torrez. Sets out specific positions on outside counsel, the Epstein Zorro Ranch investigation, the Rio Grande settlement and Child Advocate oversight, and plans child online safety legislation for 2027.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Santa Fe New Mexican via Yahoo News, Sept. 19, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Sam Kane. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, gave interviews to Source NM and the Journal, and publishes issue positions on his campaign site.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Campaign site, Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026
Raúl Torrez. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, gave interviews to Source NM and the Journal, and held a public town hall.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Santa Fe New Mexican via Yahoo News, Sept. 19, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Sam Kane. Has lived in Las Cruces for more than 20 years. Most of his itemized donations this period came from individuals in Las Cruces and southern New Mexico, per the Journal; no percentage published.
Sources: Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026, Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 5, 2026
Raúl Torrez. Lives in Albuquerque; says his family hails from southern New Mexico. Years of residence not found in a source opened. Donors in filings include out-of-state corporations; no in-state share found.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Santa Fe New Mexican via Yahoo News, Sept. 19, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Sam Kane. Runs his own law office in Las Cruces since 2004. Campaign reports are on file with no finding.
Sources: Source NM via Yahoo News, Sept. 2026, Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 5, 2026
Raúl Torrez. Leads the New Mexico Department of Justice and earlier led the Bernalillo County District Attorney's office. Staff size not found. Campaign reports are on file with no finding.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 5, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. His office's case against Meta produced a $375 million jury verdict in civil penalties in March 2026 and a $567 million abatement order in August 2026.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Sam Kane. No public record found.
Raúl Torrez. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the New Mexico attorney general race?
Raúl Torrez has the strongest record in the New Mexico attorney general race. Raúl Torrez scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Raúl Torrez's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Sam Kane (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the New Mexico attorney general race in 2026?
Sam Kane (Republican), Raúl Torrez (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Sam Kane a good candidate for Attorney General?
Sam Kane has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Raúl Torrez a good candidate for Attorney General?
Raúl Torrez scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 60 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Mexico race scored, and the New Mexico 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.