OPINION: Mayoral runoff election will likely mirror the last one
Mayor Tim Keller (D) must have a pretty good pollster. Five days before Tuesday’s election, the mayor told the Journal Editorial Board his internal polling had him in the mid-30s.
Keller said his internal polling indicated the race was “very close” between himself and challenger Darren White and he predicted a runoff, with none of the seven candidates on the ballot able to reach the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff.
His numbers were spot on. Keller received 36% of votes cast in Tuesday’s local election while White took 31%. That was probably a little too close for comfort for a two-term mayor seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term, but about as good as a mayor could expect with a 42% approval-47% disapproval rating, according to a Journal Poll in late September.
Coming in third with almost 19% of votes was former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Alex Uballez. Outgoing District 1 City Councilor Louie Sanchez received 6%, former Bernalillo County director of economic development Mayling Armijo got 6%; former Albuquerque paramedic Eddie Varela earned 2%, and businessman Daniel Chavez received 1%.
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