THE 2025 ABQ MAYOR’S RACE

Issues & Support at a Glance

Tim Keller

Democrat

  1. Public Financing: Tim Keller is the only mayoral candidate this cycle to earn public financing—a clean-election program he supports to curb outside special interest influence and allow candidates to focus on voters instead of constant fundraising.

  2. Record of standing up to Trump: During Trump’s first term, Mayor Tim Keller consistently pushed back on federal overreach—defending Albuquerque’s immigrant protections and sanctuary city status, refusing to let city resources be used for ICE enforcement, rejecting Operation Legend’s militarized policing, and demanding the Trump campaign reimburse the city for rally costs. Under Trump’s current administration, Keller is again standing up to Washington on immigration, fighting deep federal budget cuts, and condemning politically motivated grant suspensions. Under his direction, the administration developed a Defend ABQ plan with ready-to-implement executive orders, protections for immigrants, and measures to safeguard reproductive rights, renters, and the environment.

  3. Supports ABQ’s Immigrant-Friendly status: As a State Senator, Tim Keller championed immigrant rights, defending driver’s licenses for immigrants under Gov. Martinez; as mayor, he made Albuquerque a leader in progressive policy, creating the Offices of Equity and Inclusion, Civil Rights, and Immigrant Affairs.

  4. Supports Albuquerque Homeless Gateway Network: Mayor Tim Keller purchased the former Gibson Medical Center in 2021 and transformed it into the Gateway Center, Albuquerque’s first centralized shelter and service hub connecting people experiencing homelessness to housing, health care, and support services.

  5. Supports Albuquerque Community Safety Department: Mayor Tim Keller launched the Albuquerque Community Safety Department in 2021, creating a first-of-its-kind civilian response team to handle 911 calls involving mental health, substance use, and homelessness, reducing reliance on police for nonviolent crises.

  6. Labor endorsed: to date, Central New Mexico Labor Council, AFL-CIO​, New Mexico Buildings Construction Trades Council​, AFSCME Council 18​, Teamsters 492​, Carpenters Local Union 1319​, IBEW Local Union 611​, United Food and Commercial Workers 1564​, UA Local 412 Plumbers & Pipefitters.

  7. Environmental support: Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club and Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) 

  8. Supports ABQ free bus system: Mayor Tim Keller championed making Albuquerque’s buses free, launching a zero-fare pilot in 2022 and supporting its permanent adoption to expand access to jobs, education, and services while reducing barriers for low-income riders.

Alex Uballez

Democrat

  1. Public Financing: After failing to qualify for Albuquerque’s public finance program, Uballez derided the voter-approved system as “an uphill obstacle course,” blamed the City Clerk, and turned to private fundraising—undermining a core progressive reform meant to curb special-interest and big donor influence.

  2. Record of standing up to Trump: in January 2025, Alex Uballez said he would continue working for the Trump administration, if asked. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney during Trump’s first term, Alex Uballez declined to answer questions from a reporter about his role in then–Attorney General Bill Barr’s Operation Legend —a program widely seen as the precursor to today's ICE raids. 

  3. Supports ABQ’s Immigrant-Friendly status: Yes. 

  4. Supports Albuquerque Homeless Gateway Network: In a recent interview, Uballez dismissed Albuquerque’s Gateway Network as a “dead-end,” calling it a “big beautiful building.” Yet moments earlier, he described the exact vision the Gateway delivers—a centralized hub for homeless services, health care, behavioral health, social services, and housing support—undercutting his own criticism.

  5. Supports Albuquerque Community Safety Department: Yes.

  6. Labor endorsed: No.

  7. Environmental support: No.

  8. Supports ABQ free bus system: likely, but there’s no public statement to affirms Uballez supports for a free city bus/zero fare policy.

Louis Sanchez

Democrat

  1. Public Financing: Sought, but dropped out of the program. 

  2. Record of standing up to Trump: No. As recently as July, Sanchez said he backs Trump’s homelessness mandate and vows to end city lawsuits challenging it, siding with federal directives over local opposition.

  3. Supports ABQ’s Immigrant-Friendly status: Mixed. Was a key swing vote to keep Albuquerque’s Immigrant Friendly status in 2024, but now says he would have APD cooperate with ICE.

  4. Supports Albuquerque Homeless Gateway Network: Mixed, Sanchez is skeptical and critical, but as a City Council has provided funding for the program.  

  5. Supports Albuquerque Community Safety Department: Mixed, Sanchez supports but has voted on a reduced budget for the program.

  6. Labor endorsed: No.

  7. Environmental support: No.

  8. Supports ABQ free bus system: No

Mayling Armijo

Democrat

  1. Public Financing: Never sought.

  2. Record of standing up to Trump: No record.

  3. Supports ABQ’s Immigrant-Friendly status: Mixed. Mayling Armijo says she will keep Albuquerque’s Immigrant-Friendly status, but at forums she says she would support ICE cooperation with APD under some circumstances.

  4. Supports Albuquerque Homeless Gateway Network: Unclear. 

  5. Supports Albuquerque Community Safety Department: Unclear. 

  6. Labor endorsed: No.

  7. Environmental support: No.

  8. Supports ABQ free bus system: No

Daniel Chavez

Declined to State

  1. Public Financing: Never sought.

  2. Record of standing up to Trump: No record.

  3. Supports ABQ’s Immigrant-Friendly status: Supports

  4. Supports Albuquerque Homeless Gateway Network: Unclear. 

  5. Supports Albuquerque Community Safety Department: Unclear. 

  6. Labor endorsed: No.

  7. Environmental support: No.

  8. Supports ABQ free bus system: No

Eddy Varela

Republican

  1. Public Financing: Sought, but dropped out of the program. 

  2. Record of standing up to Trump: Supports Trump

  3. Supports ABQ’s Immigrant-Friendly status: Against

  4. Supports Albuquerque Homeless Gateway Network: Unclear 

  5. Supports Albuquerque Community Safety Department: Unclear 

  6. Labor endorsed: No.

  7. Environmental support: No.

  8. Supports ABQ free bus system: No

Darren White

Republican

  1. Public Financing: Sought, but dropped out of the program. 

  2. Record of standing up to Trump: Supports Trump.

  3. Supports ABQ’s Immigrant-Friendly status: Against

  4. Supports Albuquerque Homeless Gateway Network: Unclear 

  5. Supports Albuquerque Community Safety Department: Unclear 

  6. Labor endorsed: No.

  7. Environmental support: No.

  8. 7. Supports ABQ free bus system: No