Michael Roybal has worked in the courts for more than a decade, spending time at both the Santa Fe County Magistrate Court and the First Judicial District Court. He’s served as a court clerk, court monitor and a pretrial services officer, and now he’s vying to earn a spot in a judge’s seat.

Roybal, a Democrat and a 2008 Santa Fe High graduate, is running against Forward Party candidate Harry Montoya to be a Santa Fe County magistrate judge. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Roybal joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Clara Bates to discuss his background and share his reasons for running.

Working in the courts since 2014, Roybal says his roles in the court system have allowed him to see the problems that plague the community. He also talks about his family’s interactions with the judicial system his firsthand experience of seeing how drugs can impact a family. Roybal says if elected he would work to get people with substance and behavioral health issues the treatment they need while also holding people accountable for their actions.

Roybal also talks about his involvement with the JB White Foundation, which helps raise awareness about gun violence among youth and puts on youth basketball tournaments.

Michael Roybal has worked in the courts for more than a decade, spending time at both the Santa Fe County Magistrate Court and the First Judicial District Court. He&rsquo;s served as a court clerk, court monitor and a pretrial services officer, and now he&rsquo;s vying to earn a spot in a judge&rsquo;s seat.
Roybal, a Democrat and a 2008 Santa Fe High graduate, is running against Forward Party candidate Harry Montoya to be a Santa Fe County magistrate judge. In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Roybal joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Clara Bates to discuss his background and share his reasons for running.
Working in the courts since 2014, Roybal says his roles in the court system have allowed him to see the problems that plague the community. He also talks about his family&rsquo;s interactions with the judicial system his firsthand experience of seeing how drugs can impact a family. Roybal says if elected he would work to get people with substance and behavioral health issues the treatment they need while also holding people accountable for their actions.
Roybal also talks about his involvement with the JB White Foundation, which helps raise awareness about gun violence among youth and puts on youth basketball tournaments.

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.

Michael Roybal makes his case for Santa Fe County magistrate judge

Paul Gessing has spent the past 20 years working to shape policy in New Mexico as president of the Rio Grande Foundation, an Albuquerque-based think tank focused on promoting “individual freedom, limited government and economic opportunity,” according to the organization’s website.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Gessing joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss a proposal to raise the state’s gas tax, why he supports eliminating the personal income tax in the state, his thoughts on the gubernatorial race and more.

New Mexico hasn’t seen an increase in its gas tax in more than three decades. Funds raised from the tax go to repairing the state’s roads. State Sen. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Rancho de Taos, is considering introducing the proposed increase during next year’s 60-day legislative session.

Gessing thinks raising the gas tax would be a bad idea, saying he thinks there are other places the state can draw funds from to repair its roads. “Simply put, it is crazy to even be talking about raising taxes,” Gessing said.

Members of the state’s Republican Party, which is a minority in the both chambers of the Legislature, have also been pushing for eliminating personal income tax. Gessing shares why he thinks it would be a good move for the state and says he thinks it would be best to phase it out over a number of years rather than all at once.

Chacón also asks Gessing to share his thoughts on the governor’s race between Democrat Deb Haaland and Republican Gregg Hull. Gessing says he wishes the public would get the chance to see multiple debates between the two candidates before the election, which seems less likely as Nov. 3 approaches.

Paul Gessing has spent the past 20 years working to shape policy in New Mexico as president of the Rio Grande Foundation, an Albuquerque-based think tank focused on promoting &ldquo;individual freedom, limited government and economic opportunity,&rdquo; according to the organization&rsquo;s website.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Gessing joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to discuss a proposal to raise the state&rsquo;s gas tax, why he supports eliminating the personal income tax in the state, his thoughts on the gubernatorial race and more.
New Mexico hasn&rsquo;t seen an increase in its gas tax in more than three decades. Funds raised from the tax go to repairing the state&rsquo;s roads. State Sen. Roberto &ldquo;Bobby&rdquo; Gonzales, D-Rancho de Taos, is considering introducing the proposed increase during next year&rsquo;s 60-day legislative session.
Gessing thinks raising the gas tax would be a bad idea, saying he thinks there are other places the state can draw funds from to repair its roads. &ldquo;Simply put, it is crazy to even be talking about raising taxes,&rdquo; Gessing said.
Members of the state&rsquo;s Republican Party, which is a minority in the both chambers of the Legislature, have also been pushing for eliminating personal income tax. Gessing shares why he thinks it would be a good move for the state and says he thinks it would be best to phase it out over a number of years rather than all at once.
Chac&oacute;n also asks Gessing to share his thoughts on the governor&rsquo;s race between Democrat Deb Haaland and Republican Gregg Hull. Gessing says he wishes the public would get the chance to see multiple debates between the two candidates before the election, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/elections/as-start-of-early-voting-looms-in-new-mexico-gubernatorial-debates-up-in-the-air/article_95015dcf-2255-4cee-8636-095d09d97010.html">seems less likely</a>&nbsp;as Nov. 3 approaches.

Discussing possible gas tax increase, axing personal income tax with Rio Grande Foundation president

New Mexico was in the national spotlight earlier this week as President Donald Trump sent out multiple social media posts indicating a desire to rename New Mexico “New America.” The posts prompted backlash from New Mexico’s congressional delegation and others who didn’t appreciate the suggestion.

New Mexico State Historian Rob Martinez has been among the voices critical of Trump’s “New America” pitch. He has been interviewed by publications including The New York Times and The Guardian, offering a lesson on the origins of New Mexico’s name and sharing some of the unique elements of the state’s history.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Martinez joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to push back against Trump’s “New America” posts, saying “our state name is no joke.”

Martinez discusses the shaping of New Mexico and its complex culture. He also shares the history the region has had with the United States and Mexico, and some the prejudices that developed that he says seem to have not gone away.

New Mexico was in the national spotlight earlier this week as President Donald Trump sent out multiple social media posts indicating a desire to rename New Mexico &ldquo;New America.&rdquo; The posts prompted backlash from New Mexico&rsquo;s congressional delegation and others who didn&rsquo;t appreciate the suggestion.
New Mexico State Historian Rob Martinez has been among the voices critical of Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;New America&rdquo; pitch. He has been interviewed by publications including&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Guardian, offering a lesson on the origins of New Mexico&rsquo;s name and sharing some of the unique elements of the state&rsquo;s history.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Martinez joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to push back against Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;New America&rdquo; posts, saying &ldquo;our state name is no joke.&rdquo;
Martinez discusses the shaping of New Mexico and its complex culture. He also shares the history the region has had with the United States and Mexico, and some the prejudices that developed that he says seem to have not gone away.

‘We’re not renaming New Mexico’: State historian pushes back on Trump’s ‘New America’ pitch

Before resigning from the state Senate nearly four years ago, Jacob Candelaria changed his party affiliation from Democrat to decline to state. Being unencumbered by partisan loyalties “was liberating,” Candelaria said, and working as an attorney, he says he fights for the people of New Mexico instead of for the government.

Candelaria has taken high-profile cases including whistleblower lawsuits and a challenge of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s universal childcare program. This week, he filed a disciplinary complaint against state Rep. Andrea Romero for taking a part-time job in the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The complaint alleges multiple violations of New Mexico’s Rules of Professional Conduct.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Candelaria joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss his complaint against Romero, a new complaint he has filed against District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, his thoughts on the state’s Democratic Party and more.

Candelaria, a state legislator from 2013-2022, recounts his time serving in the Roundhouse, which included tense moments and clashes with the governor and other Democrats. He says he doesn’t miss being a legislator and explains why he feels “state government is broken.”

Chacón then asks Candelaria to go into detail about his disciplinary complaint against Romero. In the discussion, Candelaria reveals that on Wednesday he also filed a complaint against Carmack-Altwiews for hiring Romero to the office. Romero resigned from the controversial part-time job earlier this week.

Before resigning from the state Senate nearly four years ago, Jacob Candelaria changed his party affiliation from Democrat to decline to state. Being unencumbered by partisan loyalties &ldquo;was liberating,&rdquo; Candelaria said, and working as an attorney, he says he fights for the people of New Mexico instead of for the government.
Candelaria has taken high-profile cases including whistleblower lawsuits and a challenge of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham&rsquo;s universal childcare program. This week, he filed a disciplinary complaint against state Rep. Andrea Romero for taking a part-time job in the First Judicial District Attorney&rsquo;s Office. The complaint alleges multiple violations of New Mexico&rsquo;s Rules of Professional Conduct.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse,&rdquo; Candelaria joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to discuss his complaint against Romero, a new complaint he has filed against District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, his thoughts on the state&rsquo;s Democratic Party and more.
Candelaria, a state legislator from 2013-2022, recounts his time serving in the Roundhouse, which included tense moments and clashes with the governor and other Democrats. He says he doesn&rsquo;t miss being a legislator and explains why he feels &ldquo;state government is broken.&rdquo;
Chac&oacute;n then asks Candelaria to go into detail about his disciplinary complaint against Romero. In the discussion, Candelaria reveals that on Wednesday he also filed a complaint against Carmack-Altwiews for hiring Romero to the office. Romero resigned from the controversial part-time job earlier this week.

Michael Roybal makes his case for Santa Fe County magistrate judge

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