The campaign to unseat longtime state Sen. Phil Griego, D-Los Alamos, is heating up with allegations that Griego used campaign contributions for illegitimate purposes—NFL tickets, golf, personal credit card bills and new tires for his car. In 2010, Griego didn’t even have an opponent—yet according to challenger (and former Santa Fe County Commissioner) Jack Sullivan, he raked in and then spent tens of thousands of dollars.

On March 17, approximately 800 delegates from around New Mexico packed the halls of Albuquerque’s Crowne Plaza Hotel for the state Republican Party’s preprimary convention.

SFR's Weekly Matrix

On Sept. 24, the New Mexico Legislature adjourned its special redistricting session. Lawmakers passed four plans—one for the state House, one for the Senate, one for the Public Regulation Commission and one for the Public Education Commission—for redrawing districts. Congressional districts—and any plans Gov. Susana Martinez opts to veto—will be left to the courts to determine.

These days, it’s fashionable to rant about “the media”—a somewhat ironic concept, given that it’s also the age of “citizen journalism” and crowdsourcing. If in fact the media is flawed, then each of us is flawed by association.

This week, SFR offers a look at New Mexico’s political climate: the races to watch, the rhetoric to consider (or reject) and the tools needed to research the candidates. It may be almost fall in Santa Fe, but that doesn’t mean there will be any less hot air to contend with in 2012.

The best and brightest get their tweet on.

New Mexico’s next big election isn’t until November 2012, but the primary is less than a year away—and candidates are already out there hustling for money and votes.