New Mexico governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this New Mexico federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

James Ellison

Party: Republican

Gregg Hull

Party: Republican

Ken Miyagishima

Party: Independent

Sam Bregman

Party: Democrat

Deb Haaland

Party: Democrat

OBJ SPEAKING

Create StoryTimelinesVoter ToolsRegional AnalysisPolicy GuideAll StoriesCommunity PicksUSWorldPoliticsBusinessHealthEntertainmentTechnologyAbout
← US Map>New Mexico>governor
governor

New Mexico governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
likely d★ Flip Potential— Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Race to the WH

New Mexico is an open-seat race with Democratic control, but the state's violent crime rates (double the national average) and economic challenges create potential vulnerability. While Democrats are heavily favored, the outcome will depend on primary results and how effectively candidates address public safety concerns. The race is significant as a test of Democratic strength in a rural, working-class state.

James EllisonR
Gregg HullR
Ken MiyagishimaI
Sam BregmanD
Deb HaalandD

Summary

James Ellison, a former commissioner of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission with decades of experience in the power and energy sectors, launched his 2026 gubernatorial campaign in January 2026. His campaign focuses on energy policy and economic concerns, warning that electricity rates could double under current state policies.

Gregg Hull is the Mayor of Rio Rancho, a longtime resident, entrepreneur, and family man. He entered the Republican gubernatorial primary in early 2026, positioning himself as a proven leader focused on public safety, economic growth, and infrastructure investment. His campaign emphasizes his experience as Rio Rancho's mayor, where he worked on community safety, economic development, and infrastructure projects.

Ken Miyagishima, 67, is the former longtime mayor of Las Cruces (2007-2023) and a business owner. Known as 'Mayor Ken' during his four terms, Miyagishima announced his gubernatorial campaign as a Democrat in May 2025 but switched to run as an independent on February 2, 2026, less than 24 hours before the filing deadline for the Democratic primary. He has self-funded his campaign with approximately $250,000 in contributions and is seeking either Independent status or Forward Party nomination to reduce signature requirements for the general election ballot.

Sam Bregman, 61, is the current Bernalillo County District Attorney (since January 2023) and a career litigator with over thirty years of legal experience. A Jew from suburban Maryland, Bregman moved to New Mexico for baseball and has become deeply involved in state politics. He served on the Albuquerque City Council where he championed the first hate crime ordinance and the Sexual Assault Nursing Examiner (SANE) program. He served as chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party and as Deputy State Auditor. He was appointed District Attorney by Governor Lujan Grisham in 2023 and won election to a full term in 2024. Positioning himself as a moderate and 'common-sense' Democrat, Bregman is the second major candidate to enter the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Deb Haaland, 56, is a former U.S. Secretary of the Interior (2021-2025) and U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st Congressional District (2019-2021). An enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, Haaland is seeking to become the first Native American female governor in United States history. She made history in 2018 as one of the first two Native American women elected to the U.S. House and again in 2021 as the first Native Cabinet secretary. Haaland has been open about her personal struggles, including homelessness, alcohol addiction, and relying on federal food stamps as a single mother. She officially launched her gubernatorial campaign in February 2025 after stepping down from her Interior Secretary position.

View James Ellison's Full Profile →View Gregg Hull's Full Profile →View Ken Miyagishima's Full Profile →View Sam Bregman's Full Profile →View Deb Haaland's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Prevent electricity rates from doubling or tripling
  • Reverse energy policies he views as problematic
Public-Safety
  • Improve public safety and reduce crime across the state
Economy
  • Grow the economy and create jobs
  • Invest in and improve infrastructure
Healthcare
  • Address health care access issues
Healthcare
  • Reform medical malpractice laws to attract and retain doctors
Education
  • Improve education system and quality of schools
Public-Safety
  • Reduce crime and implement comprehensive public safety strategy
Other
  • Provide 'results, not party labels'
  • Govern like an independent focused on community needs
  • Address homelessness with dignity-focused solutions
Economy
  • Reduce debt for citizens
Public-Safety
  • Fight back against crime that has hit every corner of the state
  • Reduce crime: ensure state is no longer first in crime nationally
  • Increase juvenile crime prosecutions and zero-tolerance policy for guns in schools
Education
  • Make New Mexico no longer rank 50th in education
Healthcare
  • Ensure people don't wait six months for doctor appointments
Economy
  • Create jobs so kids don't have to leave state
Other
  • Implement legislative reforms including term limits for lawmakers
  • Move to 90-day legislative sessions and paid Legislature
Economy
  • Raise state minimum wage to $14.50 from current $12 per hour
  • Launch multilingual tax credit calculator for New Mexicans
  • Create long-term savings accounts for babies born in New Mexico
Housing
  • Ban rent-fixing practices using artificial intelligence
  • Restrict private equity ownership of housing
  • Outlaw predatory lending and cut red tape on homebuilding
Healthcare
  • Work toward public health care option
  • Ban medical debt from credit reports
  • Grow state's health care workforce and decrease prescription drug costs
Public-Safety
  • Overhaul Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)
  • Create statewide alternative response department for mental health 911 calls
Immigration
  • Limit ICE operations near places of worship, parks, and government buildings

Key Issue Positions

Energy Policy and Rates
Against High Rates
Primary campaign focus; warns about electricity cost increases from current state policies. Sees California as negative model for energy policy.
Public Safety
Public Safety Focus
Stated 'Health care is not an abstract policy debate in New Mexico, it is personal' and focused social media on health care access. Also emphasized public safety improvements.
Economic Development
Pro-Growth
Seeks to bring Rio Rancho's economic success model to state level
Infrastructure Investment
Investment Priority
Emphasizes infrastructure as key to state success
Independent Politics and Bipartisanship
Anti-Partisan
Cited frustration with 'divisions and constant fighting' between parties. Said 'The divisions and constant fighting are holding us back from addressing the real issues we face.' Believes fresh ideas and community involvement require stepping outside traditional party politics.
Second Amendment Rights
Support
Stated 'I support the Second Amendment' and noted concerns with Democratic Party's gun control stance. Said people he met were 'uneasy' about his Second Amendment support when he was running as a Democrat.
Business-Friendly Governance
Pro-Business
Sought to portray himself as 'business-friendly Democrat' while in office. Opposed legalization of adult-use cannabis. Returned to work as district manager for Farmers Insurance after leaving office.
Forward Party Alignment
Interest in Forward Party
Discussed running as Forward Party candidate if the party qualifies as a minor party in New Mexico, which would reduce signature requirements from independent standards. Says his values align with Forward Party's platform on civility in politics.
Campaign Finance Reform
Against Big Money in Politics
States 'I don't really appreciate is a lot of the big monies that get involved in political decisions.' Has not accepted donations from political committees, special interest groups, or businesses with state contracts. Self-funded with approximately $250,000.
Public Safety and Crime Reduction
Tough-on-Crime
Primary campaign message; emphasizes law enforcement hiring, prosecution of violent offenders, and mental health services. As DA, increased homicide prosecutions by 76.5% (162 convictions 2019-2022 to 286 since taking office).
Partisan Polarization and Party Unity
Moderate Democrat Against 'Radical Left'
Bregman positions himself as moderate opposed to 'radical left' and 'radical right.' Says 'Because of the purity litmus tests of the radical left, I think we have lost a lot of Democrats.' Emphasizes working-class Democratic values.
Trump Administration Policies
Opposition
Criticized Trump and billionaire Elon Musk for attacks on public schools, healthcare, veterans, and workers. Called for unity against Trump.
Education
Reform Priority
Wants New Mexico to stop ranking 50th in education; priority area for economic development and workforce
Healthcare Access
Reform Needed
Wants to ensure people don't wait six months for doctor appointments; sees health care access as issue affecting families
Affordable Housing and Cost of Living
Support
Major focus of campaign; believes corporations and big companies have driven up costs through rent-fixing, predatory lending, and private equity control
Public Health Care
Support Public Option
Announced plan in March 2026 to work toward public option for health insurance; highlighted Trump administration Medicaid cuts as urgent concern
Water Rights and Conservation
Strong Support
Told water summit attendees 'the future of our communities depends on us using water wisely'; position reflects her tenure at Interior Department managing federal lands and water resources
Indigenous Rights and Tribal Sovereignty
Strong Support
Plans to create Native American Business Incubators Program Act at state level; emphasizes tribal employment and self-determination
Child Welfare System
Support Major Reform
Announced CYFD overhaul as part of public safety plan; recognizes troubled state of child welfare system
Immigration and ICE Operations
Support Restrictions on ICE
Proposes limiting ICE operations near worship sites, parks, and government buildings; supports immigrant safety

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

College Republicans at NMSUorganization
NM Forward Partyorganization
Sandia Puebloorganization
Jicarilla Apache Nationorganization
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)individual
U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-3)individual
Most members of New Mexico congressional delegationorganization
New Mexico House Appropriations Chair Nathan Smallindividual
Animal Protection Voters New Mexicoorganization
Former State Police Chief Pete Kassetasindividual