Draft:Sam Bregman

• Comment: May be notable, but current referencing is insufficient to show clear notability - ie: article needs citations of significant coverage (not routine reporting or press/PR output) in reliable independent secondary sources. Multiple assertions in the draft are also currently unsupported by any citations. Paul W (talk) 09:41, 29 April 2025 (UTC)

• Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. Kures48 (talk) 16:37, 14 March 2025 (UTC)

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Samuel Holiday Bregman (born August 6, 1963, in Washington, D.C.) is an American attorney, politician, and public servant who is currently the District Attorney of Bernalillo County, New Mexico. He was appointed to the position in January 2023 by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and was elected to a full term in November 2024. Bregman is also the current chairman of the New Mexico Organized Crime Commission, having been appointed by Grisham in May 2023 to combat human trafficking, gun trafficking, and drug overdose deaths.

In April 2025, Bregman announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2026 New Mexico gubernatorial election.

District Attorney Sam Bregman

Early life and education

Bregman was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Maryland. In 1981, at age 17, he moved to New Mexico to attend the University of New Mexico, where he briefly played baseball for the Lobos. He later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Bregman comes from a family sports and political family. His father, Stan Bregman, was a sports executive who helped relocate the Washington Senators to Texas, forming the Texas Rangers. Stan also worked as a campaign aide and advisor to Vice Presidents Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale. Bregman’s grandfather, ""Samuel “Bo” Bregman"", immigrated from Russia in the early 20th century and became a home builder and boxing promoter.

Legal and political career

Assistant District Attorney and early political work

Bregman began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Bernalillo County, where he prosecuted domestic violence and DWI cases. He later served as a member of the Albuquerque City Council, where he helped launch the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program and authored New Mexico’s first municipal hate crime ordinance.

Chairmanship of the New Mexico Democratic Party

Bregman remained politically active, serving as Chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2013 to 2014. In this role, he worked to strengthen the party's infrastructure and support Democratic candidates across the state.

Private legal practice

After his time as a public prosecutor, Bregman built a high-profile private law practice, representing clients in cases involving homicides, medical malpractice, wrongful termination, and workplace harassment. He became known for taking on complex civil and criminal litigation.

Chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission

Beyond his legal and political career, Bregman also served as Chairman of the New Mexico Racing Commission where he focused on improving regulatory oversight, enforcing anti-doping rules, and promoting animal welfare within the horse racing industry.

Bernalillo County District Attorney

In January 2023, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Bregman as Bernalillo County District Attorney. During his tenure, he has focused on:

• Targeting violent gang members and repeat offenders

• Homicide Convictions, securing over 300 murder convictions.

• Organized Retail Crime Strategy in collaboration with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Bregman implemented a new approach to combat organized retail theft by consolidating related cases and pursuing felony charges against repeat offenders.

• Bregman initiated educational programs in schools to address gun violence, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for firearms on campus and engaging directly with students to discuss the consequences of gun-related offenses.

• Bregman proposed comprehensive changes to New Mexico's Delinquency Act, including expanding the list of offenses for which juveniles can be tried as adults and extending the age of incarceration for certain violent crimes from 21 to 25.

• Gun Possession Penalties: He advocated for increasing the penalty for unlawful possession of a firearm from a misdemeanor to a felony and for criminalizing the conversion of semi-automatic firearms into automatic ones using devices known as "switches."

• Bregman has endorsed legislative efforts to enhance behavioral health services in New Mexico. Notably, he supported House Bill 8, which aims to expand options for assisting individuals with serious mental or behavioral health issues within the criminal justice system. This legislation seeks to create more pathways for appropriate treatment rather than incarceration.

• Under Bregman's leadership, the District Attorney's office has backed diversion initiatives like the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. This program diverts non-violent individuals with serious mental health issues or substance use disorders into community-based treatment and support services, aiming to reduce recidivism and improve public safety.

• Addressing case backlogs by hiring additional prosecutors and implementing advanced case management technologies.

• Operation Route 66: a targeted public safety initiative launched in February 2025 by Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in collaboration with Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sherriff's Office, New Mexico State Police and New Mexico Corrections Department's Probation and Parole Division, focusing on reducing crime along Central Avenue—Albuquerque’s historic Route 66 corridor, particularly in the International District. This area has long struggled with issues such as drug trafficking, violent crime, and property offenses. During the first 10 weeks of Operation Route 66, there were over 550 arrests, including six homicide suspects and 396 Individuals with outstanding warrants, the seizure of more than 35,000 fentanyl pills and 40 guns.

portrait of district attorney sam bregman

Chairman of the New Mexico Organized Crime Commission

In May 2023, Bregman was appointed Chairman of the New Mexico Organized Crime Commission (OCC) by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Under his leadership, the OCC has coordinated state and federal efforts to combat organized crime, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. Notable accomplishments during his tenure include:

• Human trafficking interventions: Through "Operation Disruption," a coordinated effort involving over 20 federal, state, and international law enforcement agencies, more than 200 migrants were rescued from human trafficking organizations.
  • The Commission played a pivotal role in the arrest of Yajair Lizzet Lara, also known as Lara Mendez, identified as one of Albuquerque’s top five human traffickers. Lara was apprehended in Oklahoma City and brought back to New Mexico to face federal charges

• Dismantling illegal operations: The commission shut down 10 illicit massage parlors involved in human trafficking, seizing approximately $90,000 in illegal proceeds. Additionally, major illegal cannabis operations were dismantled, resulting in the seizure and destruction of about 160,000 pounds of illegal cannabis valued at an estimated $200 million.

• Fentanyl trafficking analysis: The OCC has been instrumental in identifying and mapping key fentanyl trafficking routes into New Mexico, revealing that most illegal fentanyl enters the state through Arizona and Texas rather than the southern border. Additionally, the Commission assisted in dismantling major illegal cannabis operations, seizing and destroying approximately 160,000 pounds of illegal cannabis valued at an estimated $200 million.

• Disrupting Organized Crime Networks: Investigations have been initiated against the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua, known for significant involvement in human trafficking, drug trafficking, and gun smuggling throughout the country.

Bregman has advocated for expanding OCC resources and proposed the creation of a centralized criminal intelligence center within the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.

Campaign for Governor of New Mexico

Sam Bregman announced his candidacy for governor of New Mexico on April, 10th 2025 in Las Vegas, NM for the 2026 gubernatorial election. Bregman is positioning himself as a centrist Democrat Notably, he attacked both the radical left and radical right in both his campaign launch event and launch video, stating that he believes that most New Mexican's are tired of the extremes and and are looking for a candidate who focuses on core issues.

Sam Bregman launches his campaign for governor of New Mexico in Las Vegas, NM

Personal life and family

Bregman was born in Washington, D.C., and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife, Jackie Bregman. Together, they have three children, Alex, Jessie and AJ. He is a grandfather of three grandchildren. His son, Alex Bregman, is a professional Major League Baseball (MLB) player for the Boston Red Sox and previously the Houston Astros. Alex Bregman. Alex contributed to the Houston Astro's World Series victories in 2017 and 2022, and won the Golden Glove in 2024 at third base. From 2005 to 2010, Bregman and his wife were co-owners of the New Mexico Thunderbirds, a professional basketball development league franchise.

Sam Bregman has a deep affinity for horses and ranching, having lived and worked on a ranch on the east side of the Sandia Mountains, near Albuquerque, NM. Bregman is part owner of Bregman Family Racing, together with his family, with notable horses racing in major races such as the Breeders Cup.