As Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland addressed attendees at Nuestra Tierra's gala Friday night in Santa Fe, tension brewed between the former interior secretary and one of her opponents for the party's nomination.

The campaign between presumed frontrunner Haaland and her leading challenger, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, was largely quiet and respectful for months but became more openly hostile in recent weeks.

At a news conference in Albuquerque last week, Bregman unveiled a blueprint listing how he would address crime, homelessness, energy, education, health care and numerous other topics and challenged Haaland to a series of debates.

Haaland's campaign responded by mocking sections of Bregman's plan as "absolute gibberish" and accusing his team of plagi

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