List of governors of New Mexico

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Politics of New Mexico 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

Template:For 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A code of laws known as the Kearny Code was established on September 22, 1846.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Usstat</ref> It would remain a territory for 62 years.

Governors of the Territory of New Mexico

Template:Abbr	Governor		Term in officeTemplate:Efn	Appointing President
1	File:James S. Calhoun (New Mexico governor).jpg	James Calhoun Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – July 2, 1852 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
2	File:William Carr Lane (St. Louis Mayor, New Mexico Territory Governor).jpg	William Carr Lane Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – May 6, 1853 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
3	File:DavidMeriwether.jpg	David Meriwether Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – August 17, 1857 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
4	File:Abraham Rencher (New Mexico Governor).jpg	Abraham Rencher Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – May 24, 1861 Template:Small	Template:Sortname
5	File:Henry Connelly (New Mexico Governor).jpg	Henry Connelly Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – January 15, 1866 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
6	File:Gen. Robert B. Mitchell - NARA - 528674 (cropped).jpg	Robert Byington Mitchell Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – May 28, 1869 Template:SmallTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
7	File:WAPile.jpg	William A. Pile Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – July 27, 1871 Template:Small	Template:Sortname
8	File:Marsh-Giddings-1871.jpg	Marsh Giddings Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – June 3, 1875 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
9	File:Samuel-Beach-Axtell-1876.jpg	Samuel Beach Axtell Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – September 4, 1878 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
10	File:Lewis Wallace.jpg	Lew Wallace Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – May 5, 1881 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
11	File:LASheldon crop.png	Lionel Allen Sheldon Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – May 23, 1885 Template:Small	Template:Sortname
12	File:Edmund G. Ross - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg	Edmund G. Ross Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – April 2, 1889 Template:Small	Template:Sortname
13	File:Bradford Prince.jpg	L. Bradford Prince Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – April 7, 1893 Template:Small	Template:Sortname
14	File:William Taylor Thornton (New Mexico Territory Governor).jpg	William Taylor Thornton Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – April 5, 1897 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
15	File:Gov Miguel Antonio Otero.jpg	Miguel Antonio Otero Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – January 10, 1906 Template:Small	Template:Sortname
				Template:Sortname
16	File:Herbert J. Hagerman (New Mexico Territory Governor).jpg	Herbert James Hagerman Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – May 3, 1907 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
17	File:CURRY. GOVERNOR LCCN2016856986 (cropped).jpg	George Curry Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – February 28, 1910 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname
18	File:William Joseph Mills.jpg	William J. Mills Template:Small Template:Sfn	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – January 14, 1912 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Template:Sortname

State of New Mexico

The state of New Mexico was admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912.<ref>Template:Usstat</ref>

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).<ref>NM Const. art 5, § 1, accessed May 8, 2023</ref> In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.<ref>NM Const., art. V, § 7, accessed May 8, 2023</ref>

Governors of the State of New Mexico

Template:Abbr	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. GovernorTemplate:Efn
1	File:William C. McDonald (1912).jpg	rowspan="2" style="background: Template:Party color;"|	William C. McDonald Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-mcdonald">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1917 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1911	style="background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
2	File:Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca.jpg	Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-debaca">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – February 18, 1917 Template:Small	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1916	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
3	File:Washington Ellsworth Lindsey.JPG	rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Washington Ellsworth Lindsey Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-lindsey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1919 Template:SmallTemplate:Sfn	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	Template:Small	Vacant
4	File:Octaviano Larrazolo, bw photo portrait, 1919.jpg	Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-larrazolo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1921 Template:SmallTemplate:Sfn	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	1918	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
5	File:Merrit C. Mechem (1921).jpg	Merritt C. Mechem Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-mechem-merritt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1923 Template:SmallTemplate:Sfn	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	1920	Template:Sortname
6	File:James Hinkle.jpg	rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	James F. Hinkle Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-hinkle">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1925 Template:Small	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1922	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname Template:Small
		Vacant
7	File:ArthurTHannett.jpg	Arthur T. Hannett Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-hannett">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1927 Template:Small	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1924	rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
8	File:Richard C. Dillon.jpg	rowspan="3" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Richard C. Dillon Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-dillon">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1931 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	1926
		1928		Template:Sortname Template:Small
				Vacant
9	File:Arthur Seligman (New Mexico Governor).jpg	rowspan="11" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Arthur Seligman Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-seligman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – September 25, 1933 Template:Small	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1930	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
		1932
10	File:Andrew Hockenhull.jpg	Andrew W. Hockenhull Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-hockenhull">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1935 Template:Small	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	Template:Small	Vacant
11	File:Clyde Tingley.jpg	Clyde Tingley Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-tingley">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1939 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1934	rowspan="12" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
			1936			Template:Sortname
12	File:John E. Miles.jpg	John E. Miles Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-miles">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – January 1, 1943 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1938	Template:Sortname
			1940			Template:Sortname
13	File:John J. Dempsey.jpg	John J. Dempsey Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-dempsey">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1947 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1942	Template:Sortname
			1944
14	File:Thomas J. Mabry.png	Thomas J. Mabry Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-mabry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1951 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1946	Template:Sortname
			1948
15	File:Edwin L. Mechem (NM, 1953).png	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Edwin L. Mechem Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-mechem-edwin">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1955 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	1950	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
		1952
16	File:John F. Simms (New Mexico Governor).jpg	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	John F. Simms Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-simms">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1957 Template:Small	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1954	Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn Template:Small
17	File:Edwin L. Mechem (NM, 1958).jpg	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Edwin L. Mechem Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-mechem-edwin" />	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1959 Template:Small	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	1956
		Vacant
18	File:Governor John Burroughs.jpg	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	John Burroughs Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-burroughs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1961 Template:Small	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1958	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
19	File:Edwin L. Mechem (NM, 1962).png	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Edwin L. Mechem Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-mechem-edwin" />	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn – November 30, 1962 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	1960	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
20	File:Tom Bolack (New Mexico Governor).jpg	Tom Bolack Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-bolack">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1963 Template:Small	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	Template:Small	Vacant
21	File:Jack M. Campbell.jpg	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Jack M. Campbell Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-campbell">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1967 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1962	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
		1964
22	File:David Cargo (NM).png	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	David Cargo Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-cargo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1971 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	RepublicanTemplate:Sfn	1966	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
		1968
23	File:Governor Bruce King.jpg	rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Bruce King Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-king">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1975 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1970	rowspan="4" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
24	File:Jerry Apodaca.jpg	Jerry Apodaca Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-apodaca">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1979 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	DemocraticTemplate:Sfn	1974	Template:Sortname
25	File:Governor Bruce King.jpg	Bruce King Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-king" />	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1983 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Democratic<ref name="nga-king" />	1978	Template:Sortname
26	File:Toney Anaya (NM).png	Toney Anaya Template:Small <ref name="nga-anaya">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1987 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Democratic<ref name="nga-anaya" />	1982	Template:Sortname
27	File:Garrey Carruthers (cropped).jpg	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Garrey Carruthers Template:Small <ref name="nga-carruthers">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1991 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Republican<ref name="nga-carruthers" />	1986	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
28	File:Governor Bruce King.jpg	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Bruce King Template:Small Template:Sfn<ref name="nga-king" />	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 1995 Template:Small	Democratic<ref name="nga-king" />	1990	style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
29	File:Garyjohnsonphoto - modified.jpg	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Gary Johnson Template:Small <ref name="nga-johnson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 2003 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Republican<ref name="nga-johnson" />	1994	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
		1998
30	File:Bill Richardson at an event in Kensington, New Hampshire, March 18, 2006.jpg	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Bill Richardson (Template:Small <ref name="nga-richardson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 2011 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Democratic<ref name="nga-richardson" />	2002	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
		2006
31	File:Governor NewMexico.jpg	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Susana Martinez Template:Small <ref name="nga-martinez">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – January 1, 2019 Template:SmallTemplate:Efn	Republican<ref name="nga-martinez" />	2010	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
		2014
32	File:Michelle Lujan Grisham official photo (cropped 2).jpg	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Michelle Lujan Grisham Template:Small <ref name="nga-lujan-grisham">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:Dts<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> – IncumbentTemplate:Efn	Democratic<ref name="nga-lujan-grisham" />	2018	rowspan="2" style="color:inherit;background: Template:Party color;"|	Template:Sortname
		2022

See also

• List of New Mexico state legislatures

References

General

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Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of New Mexico
• New Mexico History Museum website