2026 New Mexico gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 New Mexico gubernatorial election
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←  2022 November 3, 20262030 →
 
Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Michelle Lujan Grisham
Democratic



The 2026 New Mexico gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor and lieutenant governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will be ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term.

Contents

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Declared
Declined

Endorsements

Sam Bregman
Labor unions
Tribal nations
Deb Haaland
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
Individuals
Organizations
Declined to endorse
State legislators

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Sam
Bregman		Deb
Haaland		OtherUndecided
Public Policy Polling (D) [19] December 4–5, 2024557 (LV)–18%50%6% [b] 27%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Declared
Filed paperwork
  • Brian Cillessen, business development consultant [23]
  • Duke Rodriguez, former secretary of the New Mexico Human Services Department (decision expected in summer 2025) [24]
Publicly expressed interest
Potential
Declined

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared
  • Manuel Lardizabal, business owner and nominee for SD-26 in 2020 [31]

Independents

Governor

Candidates

Filed paperwork
  • Gene Pettit, retired law enforcement officer [32]

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [33] Likely DJanuary 23, 2025
Inside Elections [34] Likely DAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [35] Likely DMay 1, 2025
Race to the WH [36] Tilt DJune 30, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ Laura Montoya with 6%

References

  1. ↑ Rodriguez, Vince (April 10, 2025). "Sam Bregman announces candidacy for Governor in 2026 election". KOAT-TV . Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  2. ↑ Boyd, Dan (February 11, 2025). "With 2026 campaign cycle approaching, Deb Haaland officially launches gubernatorial bid". Albuquerque Journal . Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  3. ↑ Burge, Dave (May 27, 2025). "Former Las Cruces mayor to run for New Mexico governor". KTSM-TV . Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Nott, Robert (March 24, 2023). "Some lawmakers already gearing up for 2026 governor's race". The Santa Fe New Mexican . Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Downs, Garrett (February 14, 2025). "Heinrich declines to endorse Haaland for New Mexico governor". E&E News . Politico . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ Everett, Burgess (January 24, 2025). "Democratic Sen. Heinrich passes on governor's race". Semafor . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  7. ↑ Simonich, Milan (June 8, 2025). "Democrat Howie Morales will not run for governor of New Mexico". The Santa Fe New Mexican . Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ Chacón, Daniel J. (February 11, 2025). "Deb Haaland officially launches campaign for New Mexico governor". The Santa Fe New Mexican . Retrieved February 13, 2025. Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who has also been mentioned as a possible contender, said a campaign for governor isn't in the cards...Torrez said in a statement later he intends to run for reelection as attorney general.
  9. ↑ "LiUNA Local 16 endorses Sam Bregman" . Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Iron Workers Union Union Local 495 endorses Sam Bregman" . Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Albuquerque Police Officers Association endorses Sam Bregman". Instagram. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Teamsters Local 492 endorses Sam Bregman". Instagram. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  13. ↑ "UFCW endorses Sam Bregman". Instagram. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ Contreras, Russell (July 29, 2025). "Key tribe shuns Deb Haaland in New Mexico governor race". Axios . Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  15. ↑ Clark, Chris (April 7, 2025). "Civil Rights Icon Dolores Huerta Endorses Deb Haaland". ladailypost.com. Daily Post Los Alamos. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  16. ↑ Foster, Demis; Taylor, Molly (May 2, 2025). "CVNM Action Fund Endorses Deb Haaland for Governor – Conservation Voters New Mexico". Conservation Voter New Mexico (CVNM) Action Fund. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  17. ↑ Mackler, Jessica (February 12, 2025). "EMILYs List Endorses Former U.S. Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland for Governor of New Mexico". EMILYs List. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  18. 1 2 Prokop, Danielle (July 14, 2025). "Sen. Harold Pope announces Democratic lieutenant governor candidacy". Source New Mexico . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  19. ↑ Monahan, Joe (April 1, 2025). "Haaland Camp Sharpens Knives As Bregman Preps Entry Into '26 Guv Race; Battle Lines Drawn Between Progressives And Moderates, Also: La Politica's Bill O'Neill Dies In Santa Fe". New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  20. ↑ Clark, Carol A. (March 20, 2025). "Stephanie Garcia Richard Announces Bid For Lt. Governor". Los Alamos Daily Post. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  21. ↑ Prokop, Danielle (July 21, 2025). "Loving Village councilor declares Democratic bid for New Mexico lieutenant governor". Source New Mexico . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  22. ↑ Hendricks, Kevin (April 15, 2025). "Rio Rancho mayor will join race for GOP nomination for governor". New Mexico Political Report. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Candidate Explorer – Brian Gregory Cillessen". New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Simonich, Milan (June 12, 2025). "Unelected legislator considers running for governor". The Santa Fe New Mexican . Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  25. ↑ Howard, Corey (February 11, 2025). "Deb Haaland becomes first candidate for governor, who else may run". KOAT-TV . Retrieved February 13, 2025. Gregg Hull, the mayor of Rio Rancho, and Judith Nakamura, a former state supreme court justice, are two potential Republican candidates. Both have told Action 7 News they are considering a run for governor
  26. ↑ Monahan, Joe (January 26, 2025). "Heinrich Stays Put; Rules Out Guv Run As Potential For More DC Power Grows; Haaland Remains Frontrunner For Dem Nod But Watch Is On For Other Contenders; Poll Floated Showing Her Trouncing Bregman In Match-Up". New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan. Retrieved January 30, 2025– via Blogspot. Other Republican possibles include...former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell.
  27. ↑ Chacón, Daniel (June 22, 2025). "The Roundhouse Report: Susana for governor in 2026?". The Santa Fe New Mexican . Retrieved June 24, 2025– via Yahoo News.
  28. ↑ Tucker, Jeff (May 31, 2025). "OPINION: Unleashed primary voters bode well for centrists, Bregman campaign". Albuquerque Journal . Retrieved June 4, 2025.
  29. ↑ Monahan, Joe (January 14, 2025). "GOP List Of Possible Guv Contenders Adds A Familiar Name; Former Lt. Gov. John Sanchez Takes A Look At A Run That Could Shake Up The Field". New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan. Retrieved January 15, 2025– via Blogspot.
  30. ↑ Ross, Alex (April 14, 2025). "Nella Domenici opts against 2026 run for governor, statewide office". Roswell Daily Record . Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  31. ↑ Prokop, Danielle (April 30, 2025). "Two candidates toss in names for 2026 lieutenant governor race". Source New Mexico . Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  32. ↑ https://login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/index.html#/exploreDetails/NhQZ1hSS7fDiuOZ-mgSgiX1lK5MpzTLbNw12UnzEQ-I1/5/0/125/2026
  33. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  35. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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