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List of governors of New Mexico

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The governor of New Mexico is the head of government of New Mexico and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the New Mexico Legislature, to convene the legislature at any time, and to grant pardons.

Twenty-eight individuals have held the office of governor of New Mexico since the state's admission to the Union in 1912, two of whom—Edwin L. Mechem and Bruce King—served three non-consecutive terms. King holds the record as New Mexico's longest-serving governor, with 12 years of service. William C. McDonald, the first governor, took office on January 15, 1912. The first woman to serve as Governor was Republican Susana Martinez, who served from 2011-2019. The current officeholder is Michelle Lujan Grisham, who took office on January 1, 2019, as the first elected female Democratic governor of the state.

List of governors

For the period before acquisition by the United States, see list of Spanish governors of New Mexico and list of Mexican governors of New Mexico.

On August 18, 1846, American forces led by Stephen W. Kearny captured Santa Fe, capital of the Mexican territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México.[1] A code of laws known as the Kearny Code was established on September 22, 1846.[2] The region remained under military control until formally annexed by the United States on July 4, 1848. Following Kearny's departure for California on September 26, the chief military officer in the territory was Col. Sterling Price until October 11, 1848; Lt. Col. John M. Washington until October 23, 1849; and Col. John Munroe until the territory was organized.

Kearny appointed Charles Bent as governor before he left for California; Bent would be assassinated during the Taos Revolt on January 19, 1847. Col. Price appointed Donaciano Vigil as acting governor. A statehood convention chose Henry Connelly as governor on June 20, 1850, but this was never recognized by the federal government.

Territory of New Mexico

New Mexico Territory was organized on December 13, 1850.[3] It would remain a territory for 62 years.

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the Territory of New Mexico
No. Governor Term in office[a] Appointed by
1 James Calhoun
(1802–1852)
[4]		 January 9, 1851[b]
–
July 2, 1852
(541 days; died in office)[c]		 Millard Fillmore
2 William Carr Lane
(1789–1863)
[7]		 July 15, 1852[d]
–
May 6, 1853
(296 days; replaced)[e]		 Millard Fillmore
3 David Meriwether
(1800–1893)
[11]		 May 6, 1853[f]
–
August 17, 1857
(1565 days; replaced)[g]		 Franklin Pierce
4 Abraham Rencher
(1798–1883)
[14]		 August 17, 1857[h]
–
May 24, 1861
(1377 days; replaced)		 James Buchanan
5 Henry Connelly
(1800–1866)
[17]		 May 24, 1861[i]
–
January 15, 1866
(1698 days; replaced)[j]		 Abraham Lincoln
6 Robert Byington Mitchell
(1823–1882)
[22]		 January 15, 1866[k]
–
May 28, 1869
(1230 days; resigned)[l][m]		 Andrew Johnson
7 William A. Pile
(1829–1889)
[26]		 May 28, 1869[n]
–
July 27, 1871
(791 days; replaced)		 Ulysses S. Grant
8 Marsh Giddings
(1816–1875)
[28]		 July 27, 1871[o]
–
June 3, 1875
(1408 days; died in office)[p]		 Ulysses S. Grant
9 Samuel Beach Axtell
(1819–1891)
[32]		 June 8, 1875[q]
–
September 4, 1878
(1185 days; removed)[r]		 Ulysses S. Grant
10 Lew Wallace
(1827–1905)
[36]		 September 4, 1878[s]
–
May 5, 1881
(975 days; resigned)[t]		 Rutherford B. Hayes
11 Lionel Allen Sheldon
(1828–1917)
[40]		 May 5, 1881[u]
–
May 23, 1885
(1480 days; replaced)		 James A. Garfield
12 Edmund G. Ross
(1826–1907)
[43]		 May 23, 1885[v]
–
April 2, 1889
(1411 days; replaced)		 Grover Cleveland
13 L. Bradford Prince
(1840–1922)
[47]		 April 2, 1889[w]
–
April 7, 1893
(1467 days; replaced)		 Benjamin Harrison
14 William Taylor Thornton
(1843–1916)
[50]		 April 7, 1893[x]
–
April 5, 1897
(1460 days; resigned)[y]		 Grover Cleveland
15 Miguel Antonio Otero
(1859–1944)
[54]		 June 2, 1897[z]
–
January 10, 1906
(3144 days; replaced)		 William McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
16 Herbert James Hagerman
(1871–1935)
[58]		 January 10, 1906[aa]
–
May 3, 1907
(479 days; resigned)[ab]		 Theodore Roosevelt
17 George Curry
(1861–1947)
[61]		 May 27, 1907[ac]
–
March 1, 1910
(1010 days; resigned)[ad]		 Theodore Roosevelt
18 William J. Mills
(1849–1915)
[64]		 March 1, 1910[ae]
–
January 14, 1912
(685 days; statehood)[af]		 William Howard Taft
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State of New Mexico

The state of New Mexico was admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912.[67]

The state constitution of 1912 called for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every four years. The term was changed to two years by a 1914 amendment, and lengthened back to four years in 1970. Governors originally could not succeed themselves; this was changed in 1914 to allow governors to succeed themselves once before having to take a term off. With the lengthening of the term to four years in 1970, this was changed back to prohibiting them from succeeding themselves, but in 1986 it was lengthened back to two terms. A 1962 amendment made it so that the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on a ticket (election).[68] In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.[69]

More information No., Governor ...
Governors of the State of New Mexico
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor[ag]
1   William C. McDonald
(1858–1918)
[70][71]		 January 15, 1912[72]
–
January 1, 1917
(1814 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Democratic[74] 1911   Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca
2 Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca
(1864–1917)
[75][76]		 January 1, 1917[77]
–
February 18, 1917
(49 days; died in office)		 Democratic[74] 1916 Washington Ellsworth Lindsey[ai]
3 Washington Ellsworth Lindsey
(1862–1926)
[78][79]		 February 18, 1917[80]
–
January 1, 1919
(683 days;
lost nomination)[78]		 Republican[74] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
4 Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo
(1859–1930)
[81][82]		 January 1, 1919[83]
–
January 1, 1921
(732 days;
lost nomination)[81]		 Republican[74] 1918 Benjamin F. Pankey
5 Merritt C. Mechem
(1870–1946)
[84][85]		 January 1, 1921[86]
–
January 1, 1923
(731 days; retired)[84]		 Republican[74] 1920 William H. Duckworth
6 James F. Hinkle
(1862–1951)
[87][88]		 January 1, 1923[89]
–
January 1, 1925
(732 days; retired)		 Democratic[74] 1922 José A. Baca
(died May 17, 1924)
Vacant
7 Arthur T. Hannett
(1884–1966)
[90][91]		 January 1, 1925[92]
–
January 1, 1927
(731 days; lost election)		 Democratic[74] 1924 Edward G. Sargent[ai]
8 Richard C. Dillon
(1877–1966)
[93][94]		 January 1, 1927[95]
–
January 1, 1931
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Republican[74] 1926
1928 Hugh B. Woodward
(resigned July 1929)
Vacant
9 Arthur Seligman
(1871–1933)
[96][97]		 January 1, 1931[98]
–
September 25, 1933
(999 days; died in office)		 Democratic[74] 1930 Andrew W. Hockenhull
1932
10 Andrew W. Hockenhull
(1877–1974)
[99][100]		 September 25, 1933[101]
–
January 1, 1935
(464 days; retired)		 Democratic[74] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
11 Clyde Tingley
(1881–1960)
[102][103]		 January 1, 1935[104]
–
January 1, 1939
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Democratic[74] 1934 Louis Cabeza de Baca
1936 Hiram M. Dow
12 John E. Miles
(1884–1971)
[105][106]		 January 1, 1939[aj]
–
January 1, 1943
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Democratic[74] 1938 James Murray Sr.
1940 Ceferino Quintana
13 John J. Dempsey
(1879–1958)
[108][109]		 January 1, 1943[110]
–
January 1, 1947
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Democratic[74] 1942 James B. Jones
1944
14 Thomas J. Mabry
(1884–1962)
[111][112]		 January 1, 1947[113]
–
January 1, 1951
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Democratic[74] 1946 Joseph Montoya
1948
15 Edwin L. Mechem
(1912–2002)
[114][115]		 January 1, 1951[116]
–
January 1, 1955
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Republican[74] 1950 Tibo J. Chávez[ak]
1952
16 John F. Simms
(1916–1975)
[117][118]		 January 1, 1955[119]
–
January 1, 1957
(732 days; lost election)		 Democratic[74] 1954 Joseph Montoya[ak]
(resigned April 9, 1957)
17 Edwin L. Mechem
(1912–2002)
[114][115]		 January 1, 1957[120]
–
January 1, 1959
(731 days; lost election)		 Republican[74] 1956
Vacant
18 John Burroughs
(1907–1978)
[121][122]		 January 1, 1959[123]
–
January 1, 1961
(732 days; lost election)		 Democratic[74] 1958 Ed V. Mead
19 Edwin L. Mechem
(1912–2002)
[114][115]		 January 1, 1961[al]
–
November 30, 1962
(699 days; resigned)[am]		 Republican[74] 1960 Tom Bolack
20 Tom Bolack
(1918–1998)
[125][126]		 November 30, 1962[127]
–
January 1, 1963
(33 days; retired)		 Republican[74] Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor		 Vacant
21 Jack M. Campbell
(1916–1999)
[128][129]		 January 1, 1963[130]
–
January 1, 1967
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Democratic[74] 1962 Mack Easley
1964
22 David Cargo
(1929–2013)
[131][132]		 January 1, 1967[133]
–
January 1, 1971
(1462 days; term-limited)[ah]		 Republican[74] 1966 Lee Francis
1968
23 Bruce King
(1924–2009)
[134][135]		 January 1, 1971[136]
–
January 1, 1975
(1462 days; term-limited)[an]		 Democratic[74] 1970 Roberto Mondragón
24 Jerry Apodaca
(1934–2023)
[138][139]		 January 1, 1975[140]
–
January 1, 1979
(1462 days; term-limited)[an]		 Democratic[74] 1974 Robert E. Ferguson
25 Bruce King
(1924–2009)
[134][135]		 January 1, 1979[141]
–
January 1, 1983
(1462 days; term-limited)[an]		 Democratic[135] 1978 Roberto Mondragón
26 Toney Anaya
(b. 1941)
[142]		 January 1, 1983[143]
–
January 1, 1987
(1462 days; term-limited)[an]		 Democratic[142] 1982 Mike Runnels
27 Garrey Carruthers
(b. 1939)
[144]		 January 1, 1987[145]
–
January 1, 1991
(1462 days; term-limited)[an]		 Republican[144] 1986 Jack L. Stahl
28 Bruce King
(1924–2009)
[134][135]		 January 1, 1991[146]
–
January 1, 1995
(1462 days; lost election)		 Democratic[135] 1990 Casey Luna
29 Gary Johnson
(b. 1953)
[147]		 January 1, 1995[148]
–
January 1, 2003
(2923 days; term-limited)[ao]		 Republican[147] 1994 Walter Dwight Bradley
1998
30 Bill Richardson
(1947–2023)
[150]		 January 1, 2003[151]
–
January 1, 2011
(2923 days; term-limited)[ao]		 Democratic[150] 2002 Diane Denish
2006
31 Susana Martinez
(b. 1959)
[152]		 January 1, 2011[153]
–
January 1, 2019
(2923 days; term-limited)[ao]		 Republican[152] 2010 John Sanchez
2014
32 Michelle Lujan Grisham
(b. 1959)
[154]		 January 1, 2019[155]
–
Incumbent[ap]
(in office 2832 days)		 Democratic[154] 2018 Howie Morales
2022
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.
  2. [b]
    Calhoun was nominated on December 23, 1850;[5] confirmed by the Senate on January 9, 1851;[6] and was inaugurated on March 3, 1851.[4]
  3. [c]
    Calhoun left the territory on May 6, 1852, and died on July 2; Territorial Secretary John Greiner acted as governor until his successor arrived.[4]
  4. [d]
    Lane was nominated and confirmed by the Senate on July 15, 1852,[8] and was inaugurated on September 13.[7]
  5. [e]
    Lane had a resignation letter ready,[9] and some sources say he resigned,[7] but the nomination of his successor specified that he was being removed.[10]
  6. [f]
    Solon Borland was nominated and confirmed by the Senate on April 8, 1853,[10] but declined the post.[12] Meriwether was appointed on May 6, 1853, during a Senate recess;[12] and was formally nominated and confirmed by the Senate on February 4, 1854.[13] He was inaugurated on August 8, 1853.[11]
  7. [g]
    Meriwether left the territory in May 1857, after which time Territorial Secretary William W. H. Davis acted as governor until he too left the territory in October.[11]
  8. [h]
    Rencher was appointed on August 17, 1857, during a Senate recess;[12] nominated on December 19, 1857;[15] and confirmed by the Senate on January 18, 1858.[16] He arrived in the territory on November 11, 1857.[14]
  9. [i]
    Connelly was appointed on May 24, 1861, during a Senate recess;[12] nominated on July 10;[18] but was rejected by the Senate on July 17.[19] He was reappointed on September 4, 1861, during a Senate recess;[17] nominated on December 23, 1861;[20] and confirmed by the Senate on July 16, 1862.[21]
  10. [j]
    Connelly left the territory from fall 1862 to May 1863; Territorial Secretary William F. M. Arny acted as governor during this time.[17]
  11. [k]
    Mitchell was nominated on December 21, 1865;[23] confirmed by the Senate on January 15, 1866;[24] and took office on July 16, 1866.[22]
  12. [l]
    The nomination of Mitchell's successor specifies that he resigned.[25]
  13. [m]
    Mitchell left the territory in November 1866 for almost four months; Territorial Secretary William F. M. Arny acted as governor during this time.[22]
  14. [n]
    Pile was appointed on May 28, 1869, during a Senate recess;[12] nominated on December 6;[25] and confirmed by the Senate on December 21.[27] He took office on August 16, 1869.[26]
  15. [o]
    Willard Warner was nominated and confirmed by the Senate on May 19, 1871,[29] but declined the post. Giddings was appointed on July 27, 1871, during a Senate recess;[12] nominated on December 6;[30] and confirmed by the Senate on December 14.[31] He arrived in the territory on September 1.[28]
  16. [p]
    After Giddings' death, Territorial Secretary William G. Ritch acted as governor until his successor arrived.[28]
  17. [q]
    Axtell was appointed on June 8, 1875, during a Senate recess;[33] nominated on December 9;[34] and confirmed by the Senate on December 16.[35] He arrived in the territory on July 30.[32]
  18. [r]
    Axtell was suspended by United States Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz for mishandling the widespread violence in the territory.[32]
  19. [s]
    Wallace was appointed on September 4, 1878, during a Senate recess;[37] nominated on December 4;[38] and confirmed by the Senate on December 16.[39] He arrived in the territory on September 29, and was sworn in the next day.[36]
  20. [t]
    Wallace resigned, disillusioned with the violence in the territory and the power held by the "Santa Fe Ring".[36]
  21. [u]
    Sheldon was nominated on March 23, 1881;[41] confirmed by the Senate on May 5;[42] and arrived in the territory on July 4.[40]
  22. [v]
    Ross was appointed on May 23, 1885, during a Senate recess;[44] nominated on December 10, 1885;[45] and confirmed by the Senate on April 20, 1886.[46] He was sworn in on June 15, 1885.[43]
  23. [w]
    Prince was nominated on April 1, 1889;[48] confirmed by the Senate on April 2;[49] and was inaugurated on April 17.[47]
  24. [x]
    Thornton was nominated on April 5, 1893;[51] confirmed by the Senate on April 7;[52] and took office on April 20.[50]
  25. [y]
    Thornton submitted his resignation on April 2, 1897, and left the territory on April 5. No reason is recorded for his resignation; though it was the day after a high-profile execution.[50] Territorial Secretary Loren Miller acted as governor until his successor arrived.[53]
  26. [z]
    Otero was nominated on June 2, 1897;[55] confirmed by the Senate on June 5;[56] and was inaugurated on July 14.[54] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on January 22, 1902.[57]
  27. [aa]
    Hagerman was nominated on December 6, 1905;[59] confirmed by the Senate on January 10, 1906;[60] and took office on January 22, 1906.[58]
  28. [ab]
    President Theodore Roosevelt demanded Hagerman's resignation in April 1907 due to political pressure and controversial purchases. Territorial Secretary J. W. Raynolds acted as governor until his successor arrived.[58]
  29. [ac]
    Curry was appointed on May 27, 1907, during a Senate recess;[62] nominated on December 3, 1907;[62] and confirmed by the Senate on January 14, 1908.[63] He took office on August 8, 1907.[61]
  30. [ad]
    Curry resigned due to disagreements with United States Secretary of the Interior Richard A. Ballinger.[61]
  31. [ae]
    Mills was nominated on December 10, 1909 for a term to begin March 1, 1910;[65] confirmed by the Senate on December 20, 1909;[66] and took office on March 1, 1910.[64]
  32. [af]
    Mills served as governor until statehood, and ran unsuccessfully for one of the first United States Senate seats for New Mexico.[64]
  33. [ag]
    Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  34. [ah]
    Under a 1914 amendment to the constitution, governors were ineligible for two years after having served two consecutive terms.[73]
  35. [ai]
    Represented the Republican Party
  36. [aj]
    The constitutional start date of the term was January 1; however, in 1939 this was a Sunday, so Miles was sworn in the next day.[107]
  37. [ak]
    Represented the Democratic Party
  38. [al]
    The constitutional start date of the term was January 1; however, in 1961 this was a Sunday, so Mechem was sworn in the next day.[124]
  39. [am]
    Mechem resigned to be appointed to the United States Senate by his successor; he had already lost reelection.[114]
  40. [an]
    Under a 1970 amendment to the constitution, governors were ineligible to succeed themselves.[137]
  41. [ao]
    Under a 1986 amendment to the constitution, governors who have served two terms are ineligible until another term has passed.[149]
  42. [ap]
    Lujan Grisham's second term began on January 1, 2023,[156] and will expire January 1, 2027; she will be term-limited.

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