Governor of New Mexico facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of New Mexico
Seal of the governor
Incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham since January 1, 2019 (2019-01-01)
Style	Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Residence	New Mexico Governor's Mansion
Term length	Four years, renewable once consecutively
Constituting instrument	New Mexico Constitution
Precursor	Governor of Nuevo México Spanish governors Mexican governors Governor of New Mexico Territory
Inaugural holder	William C. McDonald
Formation	January 14, 1912 (113 years ago) (1912-01-14)
Deputy	Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Salary	$110,000 (2022)

The governor of New Mexico (Spanish: gobernador de Nuevo México) is the main leader of the state government in New Mexico. Think of them as the "boss" of the state's executive branch. They are also the commander-in-chief of the New Mexico National Guard, which means they lead the state's military forces.

The governor's job has a long history. It goes back to the Spanish and Mexican leaders of Nuevo México (starting in 1598). Later, there were governors for the New Mexico Territory (from 1851). The person holding this important job is called "The Honorable." The current governor is Michelle Lujan Grisham, who started her term on January 1, 2019.

History of New Mexico's Governors

When the United States military took over New Mexico in 1846, they appointed a military governor to run the area. Sometimes, civilian governors helped these military leaders.

In 1850, New Mexico became a Territory. At that time, the President of the United States chose who would be governor. The official job of "governor" as we know it today was created in 1912. This happened when New Mexico officially became the 47th state in the United States.

Becoming the Governor

Who can be Governor?

The rules for becoming governor are found in the New Mexico Constitution. To be governor, a person must be a citizen of the United States. They also need to be at least 30 years old. Plus, they must have lived in New Mexico for at least five years before the election.

How long does a Governor serve?

A governor serves for four years. They can be elected for two terms in a row. After serving two terms, they must take a break for at least one full term. After that break, they can run for governor again.

Working with the Lieutenant Governor

The lieutenant governor of New Mexico is like the governor's main helper. They are chosen together with the governor during elections. This means people vote for both the governor and lieutenant governor at the same time.

What the Governor Does

The governor leads the executive branch of New Mexico's state government. However, the governor does not have all the power. Other important state leaders, like the secretary of state and the attorney general, are also elected by the people.

Governor's Responsibilities

The governor has many important jobs. They give an annual speech called the State of the State address to the New Mexico State Legislature. They also create and submit the state's budget. A big part of their job is making sure that all state laws are followed and enforced.

Where the Governor Lives

Since 1954, the Governor of New Mexico has lived in the New Mexico Governor's Mansion. Before this mansion was built, the governor's home was next to the New Mexico State Capitol in downtown Santa Fe.

Even further back, before 1909, the governor lived in the Palace of the Governors. This historic building is very special. It is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is the oldest public building in the United States that has been used continuously.

Who Takes Over if Needed

If the governor cannot do their job, someone else needs to step in. This is called the order of succession. The New Mexico Constitution explains who takes over if the governor dies, resigns, is removed from office, or becomes too sick to work.

First in line is the lieutenant governor. If there is no lieutenant governor, or if they cannot do the job, then the Secretary of State becomes governor. If the Secretary of State also cannot serve, the President pro Tempore of the Senate takes over. Finally, if none of these people can serve, the Speaker of the House becomes governor.