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List of governors of New Mexico facts for kids

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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

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. A code of laws known as the Kearny Code was established on September 22, 1846. 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. It would remain a territory for 62 years.

Governors of the Territory of New Mexico
No. Governor Term in office Appointing President
1 James S. Calhoun (New Mexico governor).jpg James Calhoun
(1802–1852)
January 9, 1851

July 2, 1852
(died in office)
Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore
2 William Carr Lane (St. Louis Mayor, New Mexico Territory Governor).jpg William Carr Lane
(1789–1863)
July 15, 1852

May 6, 1853
(successor appointed)
Fillmore, MillardMillard Fillmore
3 DavidMeriwether.jpg David Meriwether
(1800–1893)
May 6, 1853

August 17, 1857
(successor appointed)
Pierce, FranklinFranklin Pierce
4 Abraham Rencher (New Mexico Governor).jpg Abraham Rencher
(1798–1883)
August 17, 1857

May 24, 1861
(successor appointed)
Buchanan, JamesJames Buchanan
5 Henry Connelly (New Mexico Governor).jpg Henry Connelly
(1800–1866)
May 24, 1861

January 15, 1866
(successor appointed)
Lincoln, AbrahamAbraham Lincoln
6 Robert Byington Mitchell.jpg Robert Byington Mitchell
(1823–1882)
January 15, 1866

May 28, 1869
(resigned)
Johnson, AndrewAndrew Johnson
7 WAPile.jpg William A. Pile
(1829–1889)
May 28, 1869

July 27, 1871
(successor appointed)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
8 Marsh-Giddings-1871.jpg Marsh Giddings
(1816–1875)
July 27, 1871

June 3, 1875
(died in office)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
9 Samuel-Beach-Axtell-1876.jpg Samuel Beach Axtell
(1819–1891)
June 8, 1875

September 4, 1878
(suspended)
Grant, Ulysses S.Ulysses S. Grant
10 Lewis Wallace.jpg Lew Wallace
(1827–1905)
September 4, 1878

May 5, 1881
(resigned)
Hayes, Rutherford B.Rutherford B. Hayes
11 LASheldon crop.png Lionel Allen Sheldon
(1828–1917)
May 5, 1881

May 23, 1885
(successor appointed)
Garfield, James A.James A. Garfield
12 Edmund G. Ross - Brady-Handy.jpg Edmund G. Ross
(1826–1907)
May 23, 1885

April 2, 1889
(successor appointed)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
13 Bradford Prince.jpg L. Bradford Prince
(1840–1922)
April 2, 1889

April 7, 1893
(successor appointed)
Harrison, BenjaminBenjamin Harrison
14 William Taylor Thornton (New Mexico Territory Governor).jpg William Taylor Thornton
(1843–1916)
April 7, 1893

April 5, 1897
(resigned)
Cleveland, GroverGrover Cleveland
15 Gov Miguel Antonio Otero.jpg Miguel Antonio Otero
(1859–1944)
June 2, 1897

January 10, 1906
(successor appointed)
McKinley, WilliamWilliam McKinley
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
16 Herbert J. Hagerman (New Mexico Territory Governor).jpg Herbert James Hagerman
(1871–1935)
January 10, 1906

May 3, 1907
(resigned)
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
17 Politician george curry.png George Curry
(1861–1947)
May 27, 1907

February 28, 1910
(resigned)
Roosevelt, TheodoreTheodore Roosevelt
18 William Joseph Mills.jpg William J. Mills
(1849–1915)
March 1, 1910

January 14, 1912
(statehood)
Taft, William HowardWilliam Howard Taft

State of New Mexico

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

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). In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.

Governors of the State of New Mexico
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 William C. McDonald (1912).jpg   William C. McDonald
(1858–1918)
January 15, 1912

January 1, 1917
(term-limited)
Democratic 1911   De Baca, Ezequiel CabezaEzequiel Cabeza De Baca
2 Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca.jpg Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca
(1864–1917)
January 1, 1917

February 18, 1917
(died in office)
Democratic 1916 Lindsey, Washington EllsworthWashington Ellsworth Lindsey
3 Washington Ellsworth Lindsey.JPG Washington Ellsworth Lindsey
(1862–1926)
February 18, 1917

January 1, 1919
(lost nomination)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
4 Octaviano Larrazolo, bw photo portrait, 1919.jpg Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo
(1859–1930)
January 1, 1919

January 1, 1921
(lost nomination)
Republican 1918 Pankey, Benjamin F.Benjamin F. Pankey
5 Merrit C. Mechem (1921).jpg Merritt C. Mechem
(1870–1946)
January 1, 1921

January 1, 1923
(did not run)
Republican 1920 Duckworth, William H.William H. Duckworth
6 James Hinkle.jpg James F. Hinkle
(1862–1951)
January 1, 1923

January 1, 1925
(did not run)
Democratic 1922 Baca, José A.José A. Baca
(died May 17, 1924)
Vacant
7 ArthurTHannett.jpg Arthur T. Hannett
(1884–1966)
January 1, 1925

January 1, 1927
(lost election)
Democratic 1924 Sargent, Edward G.Edward G. Sargent
8 Richard C. Dillon.jpg Richard C. Dillon
(1877–1966)
January 1, 1927

January 1, 1931
(term-limited)
Republican 1926
1928 Woodward, Hugh B.Hugh B. Woodward
(resigned July 1929)
Vacant
9 Arthur Seligman (New Mexico Governor).jpg Arthur Seligman
(1871–1933)
January 1, 1931

September 25, 1933
(died in office)
Democratic 1930 Hockenhull, Andrew W.Andrew W. Hockenhull
1932
10 Andrew Hockenhull.jpg Andrew W. Hockenhull
(1877–1974)
September 25, 1933

January 1, 1935
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
11 Clyde Tingley.jpg Clyde Tingley
(1881–1960)
January 1, 1935

January 1, 1939
(term-limited)
Democratic 1934 de Baca, Louis CabezaLouis Cabeza de Baca
1936 Dow, Hiram M.Hiram M. Dow
12 John E. Miles.jpg John E. Miles
(1884–1971)
January 1, 1939

January 1, 1943
(term-limited)
Democratic 1938 Murray Sr., JamesJames Murray Sr.
1940 Quintana, CeferinoCeferino Quintana
13 John J. Dempsey.jpg John J. Dempsey
(1879–1958)
January 1, 1943

January 1, 1947
(term-limited)
Democratic 1942 Jones, James B.James B. Jones
1944
14 Thomas J. Mabry.png Thomas J. Mabry
(1884–1962)
January 1, 1947

January 1, 1951
(term-limited)
Democratic 1946 Montoya, JosephJoseph Montoya
1948
15 Edwin L. Mechem (NM, 1953).png Edwin L. Mechem
(1912–2002)
January 1, 1951

January 1, 1955
(term-limited)
Republican 1950 Chávez, Tibo J.Tibo J. Chávez
1952
16 John F. Simms (New Mexico Governor).jpg John F. Simms
(1916–1975)
January 1, 1955

January 1, 1957
(lost election)
Democratic 1954 Montoya, JosephJoseph Montoya
(resigned April 9, 1957)
17 Edwin L. Mechem (NM, 1958).jpg Edwin L. Mechem
(1912–2002)
January 1, 1957

January 1, 1959
(lost election)
Republican 1956
Vacant
18 Governor John Burroughs.jpg John Burroughs
(1907–1978)
January 1, 1959

January 1, 1961
(lost election)
Democratic 1958 Mead, Ed V.Ed V. Mead
19 Edwin L. Mechem (NM, 1962).png Edwin L. Mechem
(1912–2002)
January 1, 1961

November 30, 1962
(resigned)
Republican 1960 Bolack, TomTom Bolack
20 Tom Bolack (New Mexico Governor).jpg Tom Bolack
(1918–1998)
November 30, 1962

January 1, 1963
(successor took office)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
21 Jack M. Campbell.jpg Jack M. Campbell
(1916–1999)
January 1, 1963

January 1, 1967
(term-limited)
Democratic 1962 Easley, MackMack Easley
1964
22 David Cargo (NM).png David Cargo
(1929–2013)
January 1, 1967

January 1, 1971
(term-limited)
Republican 1966 Francis, LeeLee Francis
1968
23 Governor Bruce King.jpg Bruce King
(1924–2009)
January 1, 1971

January 1, 1975
(term-limited)
Democratic 1970 Mondragón, RobertoRoberto Mondragón
24 Jerry Apodaca.jpg Jerry Apodaca
(1934–2023)
January 1, 1975

January 1, 1979
(term-limited)
Democratic 1974 Ferguson, Robert E.Robert E. Ferguson
25 Governor Bruce King.jpg Bruce King
(1924–2009)
January 1, 1979

January 1, 1983
(term-limited)
Democratic 1978 Mondragón, RobertoRoberto Mondragón
26 Toney Anaya (NM).png Toney Anaya
(b. 1941)
January 1, 1983

January 1, 1987
(term-limited)
Democratic 1982 Runnels, MikeMike Runnels
27 Garrey Carruthers (cropped).jpg Garrey Carruthers
(b. 1939)
January 1, 1987

January 1, 1991
(term-limited)
Republican 1986 Stahl, Jack L.Jack L. Stahl
28 Governor Bruce King.jpg Bruce King
(1924–2009)
January 1, 1991

January 1, 1995
(lost election)
Democratic 1990 Luna, CaseyCasey Luna
29 Garyjohnsonphoto - modified.jpg Gary Johnson
(b. 1953)
January 1, 1995

January 1, 2003
(term-limited)
Republican 1994 Bradley, Walter DwightWalter Dwight Bradley
1998
30 Bill Richardson at an event in Kensington, New Hampshire, March 18, 2006.jpg Bill Richardson
(1947–2023)
January 1, 2003

January 1, 2011
(term-limited)
Democratic 2002 Denish, DianeDiane Denish
2006
31 Governor NewMexico.jpg Susana Martinez
(b. 1959)
January 1, 2011

January 1, 2019
(term-limited)
Republican 2010 Sanchez, JohnJohn Sanchez
2014
32 Michelle Lujan Grisham official photo (cropped 2).jpg Michelle Lujan Grisham
(b. 1959)
January 1, 2019

Incumbent
Democratic 2018 Morales, HowieHowie Morales
2022

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Gobernadores de Nuevo México para niños

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