Duke Rodriguez officially launched his candidacy for governor of New Mexico earlier this month by making the announcement in newspaper advertisements across the state. A former state human services Cabinet secretary who is now among New Mexico's most successful cannabis entrepreneurs, Rodriguez is the latest of three Republicans to announce a run for the highest office in the state.

In this week’s episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rodriguez joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to explain why he has decided to run for governor, respond to questions about his residency in New Mexico and discuss his personal and professional background.

Chacón questions Rodriguez on his voting history in New Mexico and Arizona. He also asks Rodriguez if he voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, and to share his thoughts on the president’s second term in office.

Rodriguez, the president and CEO of the Ultra Health cannabis firm, speaks to what led him to enter the cannabis industry. He also discusses how he plans to finance his campaign with the Republican primary just over five months away.

Duke Rodriguez officially launched his candidacy for governor of New Mexico earlier this month by making the announcement in newspaper advertisements across the state. A former state human services Cabinet secretary who is now among New Mexico's most successful cannabis entrepreneurs, Rodriguez is the latest of three Republicans to announce a run for the highest office in the state.
In this week&rsquo;s episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Rodriguez joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to explain why he has decided to run for governor, respond to questions about his residency in New Mexico and discuss his personal and professional background.
Chac&oacute;n questions Rodriguez on his voting history in New Mexico and Arizona. He also asks Rodriguez if he voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, and to share his thoughts on the president&rsquo;s second term in office.
Rodriguez, the president and CEO of the Ultra Health cannabis firm, speaks to what led him to enter the cannabis industry. He also discusses how he plans to finance his campaign with the Republican primary just over five months away.

The Santa Fe New Mexican’s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

Around the Roundhouse

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

‘I’m going to ignite a conversation’: Duke Rodriguez discusses his run for New Mexico governor

Albuquerque-based radio host Eddy Aragon has spent several years looking into what went on at Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch and has received calls from listeners who he says have provided insight about the workings of the property south of Santa Fe.

In 2019, Aragon received an anonymous email alleging the bodies of two foreign girls were buried near Epstein’s property. “Both died by strangulation during rough, fetish sex,” the anonymous email said. The writer claimed to be a former staff member at the ranch. Aragon forwarded the email to the FBI, and the email is among the millions of documents released in the Epstein files.

Aragon, who hosts “The Rock of Talk” on KIVA 1600 AM, spoke with Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón on the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast to discuss his history with the Epstein case. He talks about how the public’s curiosity spurred his early interest in the case. He also expresses his frustration with the lack of attention Epstein’s wrongdoings received from state officials and the media until the release of the Epstein files.

Aragon says he knows who the sender of the anonymous email is and that he relayed that information to an FBI agent. He also claims to know who many of the people who were employed at the ranch were and their relationships with each other.

Aragon shares his thoughts on the new Epstein “truth commission” that was formed during the state’s recent 30-day legislative session to investigate what went on with the ranch.

“We need to get this stain off of our state of New Mexico,” he said.

Albuquerque-based radio host Eddy Aragon has spent several years looking into what went on at Jeffrey Epstein&rsquo;s Zorro Ranch and has received calls from listeners who he says have provided insight about the workings of the property south of Santa Fe.
In 2019, Aragon received an anonymous email alleging the bodies of two foreign girls were buried near Epstein&rsquo;s property. &ldquo;Both died by strangulation during rough, fetish sex,&rdquo; the anonymous email said. The writer claimed to be a former staff member at the ranch. Aragon forwarded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00067066.pdf">the email</a>&nbsp;to the FBI, and the email is among the millions of documents released in the Epstein files.
Aragon, who hosts &ldquo;The Rock of Talk&rdquo; on KIVA 1600 AM, spoke with&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n on the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast to discuss his history with the Epstein case. He talks about how the public&rsquo;s curiosity spurred his early interest in the case. He also expresses his frustration with the lack of attention Epstein&rsquo;s wrongdoings received from state officials and the media until the release of the Epstein files.
Aragon says he knows who the sender of the anonymous email is and that he relayed that information to an FBI agent. He also claims to know who many of the people who were employed at the ranch were and their relationships with each other.
Aragon shares his thoughts on the new Epstein &ldquo;truth commission&rdquo; that was formed during the state&rsquo;s recent 30-day legislative session to investigate what went on with the ranch.
&ldquo;We need to get this stain off of our state of New Mexico,&rdquo; he said.

Epstein's Zorro Ranch: New Mexico radio host discusses email he received alleging buried bodies

An opportunity to connect with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to the State of the Union address Tuesday had a powerful impact on Andrea Romero, a New Mexico state representative who co-sponsored a resolution to create a so-called “truth commission” to investigate Epstein’s activities at Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County.

The Santa Fe Democrat, who was a guest of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury at the State of the Union, shared her experience in the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, saying the survivors told her that out of Epstein’s operations in various states, “New Mexico was basically the worst.”

During the episode, Romero speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the formation of the Epstein “truth commission,” its mission, its members and how it plans to operate as it creates its reports over the next year. “This isn’t about politics, it’s about bringing justice to survivors,” Romero said.

Romero also discusses the recently completed legislative session and two pieces of contentious legislation she co-sponsored — the Clear Horizons Act and a bill that would have banned the sale of some “extremely dangerous weapons” in New Mexico. Both bills failed to pass.

An opportunity to connect with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to the State of the Union address Tuesday had a powerful impact on Andrea Romero, a New Mexico state representative who co-sponsored a resolution to create a so-called &ldquo;truth commission&rdquo; to investigate Epstein&rsquo;s activities at Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County.
The Santa Fe Democrat, who was a guest of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury at the State of the Union, shared her experience in the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, saying the survivors told her that out of Epstein&rsquo;s operations in various states, &ldquo;New Mexico was basically the worst.&rdquo;
During the episode, Romero speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n about the formation of the Epstein &ldquo;truth commission,&rdquo; its mission, its members and how it plans to operate as it creates its reports over the next year. &ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t about politics, it&rsquo;s about bringing justice to survivors,&rdquo; Romero said.
Romero also discusses the recently completed legislative session and two pieces of contentious legislation she co-sponsored &mdash; the Clear Horizons Act and a bill that would have banned the sale of some &ldquo;extremely dangerous weapons&rdquo; in New Mexico. Both bills failed to pass.

'New Mexico was basically the worst,' Epstein survivors told lawmaker of abuse at Zorro Ranch

The 2026 30-day legislative session came to a close Thursday with Democrats largely touting it as a success following an overhaul of the state's medical malpractice law, the funding of universal child care and more. 

One of the bigger news items to come out of the final full day of the session was an omnibus tax package with 1% raises for state employees. Rep. Derrick Lente and other House Democrats helped get the raises across the finish line after they had been previously removed from the budget in the Senate. 

In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Lente joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to talk about how it took a creative solution to reinstate the raises for state employees. Lente, who chairs the House Tax committee, also shares his thoughts on the power of the Senate Finance Committee, which had previously stripped the raises.

Chacón also asks Lente about his position on a measure that will go before voters to determine whether state legislators will receive a salary, how he feels about what lawmakers accomplished during the session, and how he decompresses at the end of a session.

The 2026 30-day legislative session came to a close Thursday with Democrats largely touting it as a success following an overhaul of the state's medical malpractice law, the funding of universal child care and more.&nbsp;
One of the bigger news items to come out of the final full day of the session was an omnibus tax package with 1% raises for state employees. Rep. Derrick Lente and other House Democrats helped get the raises across the finish line after they had been previously removed from the budget in the Senate.&nbsp;
In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Lente joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to talk about how it took a creative solution to reinstate the raises for state employees. Lente, who chairs the House Tax committee, also shares his thoughts on the power of the Senate Finance Committee, which had previously stripped the raises.
Chac&oacute;n also asks Lente about his position on a measure that will go before voters to determine whether state legislators will receive a salary, how he feels about what lawmakers accomplished during the session, and how he decompresses at the end of a session.

‘I’m going to ignite a conversation’: Duke Rodriguez discusses his run for New Mexico governor

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