ONLY ON ABC-7: Gov. Martinez and King face off in debate

The ABC-7 New Mexico Mobile Newsroom traveled to Albuquerque to cover the gubernatorial debate between Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and Democratic candidate Gary King.

It was a battle at the podium for Martinez and the man who wants to take her job, King. King is currently the attorney general in New Mexico.

Education, minimum wage, decriminalizing marijuana and poverty are a few of the topics Martinez and King had to answer during the hour-long debate at KOAT’s studios in Albuquerque.

Although the two candidates didn’t agree on much, they gave detailed responses to questions they didn’t get to see or hear before the square-off. It was the third and final debate for the governor seat.

The only thing they agreed on is that education reform needs to continue to happen across the land of enchantment.

While Las Cruces city council recently voted on increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 by January 2017, Martinez and King don’t agree on raising the statewide minimum wage.

“It’s extremely hard to look at $10.10 because other businesses won’t come and the ones that are here will leave,” Martinez said.

“If we have a minimum wage that’s too low then people are on assistance, and that actually is not good, so I think people will find if that occurs in southern New Mexico that the economy will improve overall,” King said.

Early voting has already begun, but neither candidate is backing down just yet.