Martin Heinrich rules out run for governor, citing high stakes in Washington

SANTA FE — Martin Heinrich is staying put in Washington, D.C.

New Mexico’s senior U.S. senator announced Friday he will not run for governor in 2026, saying he instead plans to remain in the Senate to fight against President Donald Trump’s policies.

“It’s clear to me that New Mexico needs a strong voice in Washington now more than ever — the stakes are simply too high,” Heinrich said in a statement.

Heinrich, a Democrat, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012 and defeated Republican Nella Domenici last November to win reelection to a new six-year term.

He was named the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last month, a position that he vowed to use to fight for public lands and secure funding for national laboratories.

However, Heinrich had refused to rule out a run for governor as recently as last month.

During a Friday interview, he said he spent several months mulling over the race and conducted internal polling that he described as positive.

“I had a lot of people I respect and admire encouraging me to do it,” Heinrich told the Journal.

However, he said he ultimately decided to pass on the race due to the family implications of another grueling campaign — he has two sons who attend school in Albuquerque — and the flurry of Trump’s first week in office.

His decision not to launch a gubernatorial campaign could clear the way for former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to be the highest-profile candidate in the race.

Haaland has not officially announced a campaign, but senior Democratic strategists have said she has been quietly making plans to run.

She attended the opening day of the 60-day New Mexico legislative session in Santa Fe this week and received a loud ovation from Democratic lawmakers when introduced in the House chamber.

A Democratic strategist close to Haaland said Friday the former congresswoman has gotten positive feedback from New Mexicans about a potential campaign, adding, “And what I can tell you is she’s listening.”

Other candidates could also enter the race, however, as Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman has not ruled out a run. No Republican candidates have announced gubernatorial campaigns yet either.

University of New Mexico political science professor Gabriel Sanchez said Heinrich would have been a formidable candidate in the race to be New Mexico’s next governor had he run.

With Heinrich opting against a run, he said the race could be more attractive to Democratic and Republican candidates alike.

But he also said the decision could set the stage for Haaland to make an announcement in the coming months.

“I think it paves the way for her to be the primary candidate in the race,” said Sanchez, noting the possibility of Haaland becoming the first Native American female governor in U.S. history could appeal to some Democratic voters.

The race for governor will be an open contest in 2026, as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is entering the final two years of her tenure and is barred by the state Constitution from seeking a third consecutive term.

Meanwhile, Heinrich’s decision to stay in the U.S. Senate comes just days after Trump was sworn into office.

Heinrich cited Trump’s executive orders repealing energy policies, issuing pardons to more than 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants and targeting birthright citizenship in his statement, even though at least one of the orders has been halted by a federal judge.

“From fighting back against these harmful policies to defending the progress we’ve made lowering costs for working families, growing our economy, and keeping our communities safe, the Senate is where I believe I can have the most impact,” Heinrich said.

But he also said he’s willing to work with the Trump administration and other senators on economic and energy issues, among other policy areas.

“I’m going to pick my battles, I’m not going to be reflexively against everything,” Heinrich told the Journal, citing his votes in favor of confirming some of Trump’s appointees to lead federal agencies.

“When things do make sense for New Mexico and the country, count me in,” he added.

Heinrich also said it is too early to say whether he might endorse a candidate in New Mexico’s next gubernatorial race, but said he plans to watch closely as the field develops.