Governor · New Mexico

Incumbent: Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic) · Term-limited
General election Tuesday, Nov 3, 2026

← All New Mexico races

The candidates

Deb Haaland

Democratic

Former secretary of the interior (2021–2025), former U.S. representative (2019–2021), and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014.

Background via Wikipedia race page · its cited source: abqjournal.com

Gregg Hull

Republican

Mayor of Rio Rancho (2014–2026).

Background via Wikipedia race page · its cited source: nmpoliticalreport.com

Candidates checked against the official list: state election office source. Candidate list compiled from the Wikipedia race page and the sources on each profile. Check your official sample ballot before voting.

Where they stand: Haaland vs. Hull

Topic rows are grouped by Vote Book; the headings and quoted words are each candidate’s own, with the source under each one. “As reported” means a news outlet’s description, not an exact quote. A yellow tag means no public position was found on that topic.

Health care
HaalandNo public position foundHull

Healthcare

Access to quality healthcare is vital for every New Mexican, urban and rural alike. Families should not have to drive hours to see a doctor or wait months for basic care. As Mayor, Gregg Hull built strong local services; as Governor, he will bring that same results-driven leadership to healthcare access statewide. He …
Original: gregghull.com/priorities (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
Education
Haaland

List your top priorities, and explain how you will achieve them.

New Mexicans deserve to be able to afford groceries and rent in the same month, feel safe in their communities, see a doctor when they are sick, and for kids to have a quality public education. To put more money in people’s pockets, I will raise wages, expand tax relief for working families, pursue paid family and medical leave, aggressively build and grow affordable housing, and support job creation. To ensure our kids are able to read by third grade, I will prioritize literacy outcomes and expand investment in universal childcare, community schools, and educator recruitment. Finally on public safety and healthcare, I will tackle violent crime, drugs, and gun violence, while overhauling CYFD and expanding behavioral health service.
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411

What measures would you propose to improve Pre-K - 12 education?

My goal is for every step of a child’s education to open doors. My top priority is helping kids read by third grade, because reading sets them up to succeed in every subject. I will invest in literacy support, coaches, summer learning, math screening and intervention, and stronger instruction. I will protect and expand universal childcare with quality childcare options, and make early education easier to access. To support kids who might not want to go to college, I will bring the trades into middle school and more high schools. For educators, I plan to expand teacher residencies, improve pay and benefits, help with housing in rural communities, and expand community schools plus Native language and culture programs for Tribal students.
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Hull

Education

New Mexico’s greatest asset is its children. As Governor, Gregg will make meaningful investments in public education and demand accountability, ensuring every child receives a high-quality education and the best possible chance to succeed. He will establish accessible youth tutoring programs, strengthen the state’s …
Original: gregghull.com/priorities (accessed Oct 16, 2026)

What measures would you propose to improve Pre-K - 12 education?

New Mexico's reading and math scores rank among the nation's lowest, yet the state has responded by lowering standards rather than raising them. I will reverse that trend by tying a portion of school funding to measurable gains in literacy, math, and graduation rates. I will expand career and technical education so students graduate with industry-recognized skills, establish accessible tutoring programs, and give parents transparent access to curriculum and progress data. I will also address chronic absenteeism and reform the Public Education Department to focus on results.
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Energy & environment
Haaland

No utility rate increases & reliable energy for New Mexicans

Require data centers to build their own renewable energy infrastructure to keep energy costs from passing onto consumers and local communities, while also improving energy reliability

Protect New Mexico’s water

Require closed-loop systems and the best available technology to protect New Mexico’s clean water supply. Place effective penalties on any industry overuse or water waste

2 more on profile →

Hull

How would you address future water needs in an increasingly arid state?

Water security is not optional — it is the foundation of economic growth, agriculture, and stable communities. Rio Rancho led the state with the state’s first-ever aquifer recharge system. As governor, I will invest in brackish water treatment to create new sources of supply, reducing pressure on rivers and freshwater aquifers. I will upgrade aging infrastructure to cut leaks, expand advanced wastewater treatment for safe reuse, and support modern irrigation systems to protect farmers' livelihoods. I will meet our interstate obligations to deliver water downstream and pursue transparent negotiations to resolve outstanding Tribal water rights. Long-term certainty for every water user starts with planning ahead and acting now.
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Crime & public safety
HaalandNo public position foundHull

Crime

Mayor Hull has always prioritized public safety, and that will not change as Governor. Under his leadership, the Rio Rancho Police budget has more than doubled and the city has been consistently ranked one of the safest in New Mexico. As Governor, Gregg will increase police presence throughout the state at both the …
Original: gregghull.com/priorities (accessed Oct 16, 2026)

List your top priorities, and explain how you will achieve them.

My top priorities are public safety, economic growth, education, infrastructure and water security, and protecting children. I will increase police presence and enhance border security to address crime and the fentanyl crisis. I will attract high-paying jobs through targeted business incentives and energy expansion. I will hold schools accountable for outcomes while expanding career training. I will invest in brackish water treatment and aquifer recharge for long-term supply. And I will reform CYFD with clear standards, oversight, and stable caseworker staffing.
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Taxes & spending
HaalandNo public position foundHull

Four Steps to Zero - Ending Personal Income Tax

New Mexicans should be able to keep more of what they earn. Gregg Hull’s Four Steps to Zero proposal would phase out state tax on eligible personal income while keeping net business profits taxable. Relief would begin with the first $25,000 of eligible taxable personal income for single filers and $50,000 for married …
Original: gregghull.com/priorities (accessed Oct 16, 2026)
Jobs, wages & cost of living
Haaland

New Mexico jobs for New Mexico workers

Projects must be built and run with New Mexico labor, ensuring New Mexicans get job opportunities first, that those jobs are union, and that they meet prevailing wage and fringe-benefit rates. Invest in local pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs in partnership with labor unions. Set in-state workforce …

What criteria should be applied when considering proposed large economic development projects?

New developments must be mutually beneficial, creating good-paying jobs for New Mexicans using local labor while protecting families from cost increases. Projects must prioritize community well-being, utilizing transparency, community benefit agreements, accountability, and clawback provisions to ensure promises are kept. Investment must safeguard water, air, land, and public health, require accurate water reporting, and ensure industries support clean energy and grid stability. I aim for New Mexico to lead in energy, tech, film, and outdoor recreation with long-term value for our communities, preventing exploitation by outside corporations seeking short-term gains.
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Hull

Jobs and the Economy

As the “Pro Business Mayor,” Gregg Hull has secured more than $6 billion in investments in Rio Rancho. As Governor, he will fight to bring new business to New Mexico and strengthen existing employers by using targeted incentives to attract high-paying jobs, expanding the state’s energy portfolio to include all sources …
Original: gregghull.com/priorities (accessed Oct 16, 2026)

What criteria should be applied when considering proposed large economic development projects?

Projects should be evaluated on the quality and wages of jobs created, their alignment with New Mexico's existing strengths — research, advanced manufacturing, energy, and defense — and whether they support workforce development. Incentives must be tied to measurable results and fiscal accountability. Projects should benefit both rural and urban communities, avoid placing undue burdens on infrastructure or public services, and strengthen long-term economic resilience. My core question: does this investment leave New Mexico more diversified, more self-sufficient, and better positioned to grow?
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Families & communities
Haaland

No backroom deals, strong community benefits

Open, transparent, and meaningful conversations without NDAs so that communities have a say ahead of decisions, and ensure strong benefits that support schools, roads, infrastructure, workforce, and meet community needs. Formal Tribal consultation is imperative, as is robust monitoring, follow-up, community oversight …
HullNo public position found
Background & priorities
Haaland

What qualifies you for this office?

I will bring lived experience and a proven record of results to the Governor’s office. I am a 35th-generation New Mexican, educated in our public schools, and a first-generation college graduate. I’m also a single mom who owned a small business and understands what it means to rely on Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC to keep a family afloat. I was a member of Congress and the Secretary of the Interior, where I managed an $18 billion budget and 70,000 employees. In both positions, I worked across the aisle to deliver infrastructure and broadband investments, protect public lands, launch the Missing and Murdered Unit, advance major clean energy projects, and lead historic pollution cleanup. I know how to make the government work for working people
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Hull

What qualifies you for this office?

I have been a New Mexico resident for more than 40 years, an entrepreneur, and Rio Rancho's longest-serving mayor, elected three times beginning in 2014. Before entering public service, I built and operated two businesses, gaining direct experience with job creation and regulatory challenges. As mayor, I doubled the police budget, helped Rio Rancho earn recognition as New Mexico's safest city, and attracted more than $6 billion in investment. In 2024, Rio Rancho was named a Best Place to Live for Families and the state's most affordable city. I am ready to bring that same record of results to all New Mexicans.
Candidate's own answer to the League of Women Voters, via VOTE411
Know something we’re missing? Tell us: hello@getvotebook.com Inbox pending setup — messages may not be read yet. Please include a link to the source (official site, questionnaire, debate or news report). We add positions only with a source and treat every candidate the same way.

Official voting records

The same nine Senate votes (or three House votes) are shown for every current member of Congress running, so records can be compared across races. Click a roll call for the official tally.

No congressional voting record for: Deb Haaland, Gregg Hull. State legislative or local records are not yet compiled.