Deb Haaland planning run for governor, but could face competition from Martin Heinrich

SANTA FE — The race to determine who will be New Mexico’s next governor is nearly two years away, but the field could start taking shape in the coming months.

Former New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland has been quietly making plans to run, a senior Democratic strategist said Tuesday.

Haaland has spent the last three-plus years as U.S. Department of the Interior secretary and will be stepping down from that post when President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

The former state Democratic Party chairwoman, who made history as the first Native American Cabinet secretary, spent time in New Mexico during the run-up to this year’s Election Day, including making phone calls to voters alongside U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury.

However, Haaland might not be the only high-profile Democrat eyeing the governor’s race in 2026.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is also considering a run, according to senior Democratic sources, even after winning reelection last month to a new six-year term in the Senate.

“Throughout his career, Senator Heinrich has always prioritized what’s best for New Mexico, and that will continue to guide his work moving forward,” a Heinrich spokesman said Tuesday.

The state’s other U.S. senator, Democrat Ben Ray Luján, told Axios that both Haaland and Heinrich are popular among New Mexico voters.

“Martin is going to come at this with resources, but Deb has a strong base with people back home,” Luján reportedly said. “When Deb runs, Deb wins, she finds a way to win.”

New Mexico will have a new governor in 2027, since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term in office.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, was first elected in 2018 and won reelection in a hard-fought race against Republican Mark Ronchetti in 2022.

No Republicans have as of yet announced a 2026 gubernatorial campaign.

Longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff said both Haaland and Heinrich would be strong candidates, and other Democrats could also end up joining the race.

“Potentially, we could have two Democratic Party heavyweights running for governor,” Sanderoff told the Journal. “Both of them would be formidable candidates in a primary and general election.”

While there’s a big question about whether Haaland or Heinrich would ultimately decide to run against the other in a primary election, he pointed out Heinrich would not have to give up his Senate seat in order to make a run for governor.

As for Haaland, he said the timing of her departure from President Joe Biden’s Cabinet could make a gubernatorial campaign a logical next step.

But a formal announcement from Haaland is unlikely to come before next month due to the Hatch Act, which restricts federal government employees from engaging in political activities.

“Her personal and professional biography would play well in a Democratic primary,” said Sanderoff, who is the president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc.

Although the 2026 primary election is still roughly 18 months away, it’s not uncommon in New Mexico for candidates to announce campaigns more than a year in advance.

Lujan Grisham, for instance, formally announced her campaign for governor in mid-December 2016.

Such early campaign launches can be strategic, Sanderoff said, as they can serve to dissuade other potential candidates from running.