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List of governors of New Mexico facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The governor of New Mexico is like the main leader of the state. They are in charge of the government and the state's military forces, called the New Mexico National Guard. The governor makes sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject new laws passed by the New Mexico Legislature. The governor can call the legislature together whenever needed. They also have the power to grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime.

Since New Mexico became a state in 1912, 28 people have been governor. Two governors, Edwin L. Mechem and Bruce King, served three terms each. Bruce King served the longest, for 12 years. William C. McDonald was the first governor, starting on January 15, 1912. The first woman governor was Susana Martinez, a Republican, who served from 2011 to 2019. The current governor is Michelle Lujan Grisham. She started on January 1, 2019. She is the first woman from the Democratic Party to be elected governor of New Mexico.

New Mexico's Early Leaders

Before New Mexico became a state, it was a territory. This section explains who governed it during that time.

From Mexican Territory to U.S. Control

On August 18, 1846, American forces led by Stephen W. Kearny took control of Santa Fe. Santa Fe was the capital of the Mexican territory of New Mexico. A set of laws, known as the Kearny Code, was put in place on September 22, 1846. The area stayed under military control until it officially became part of the United States on July 4, 1848.

After Kearny left for California, other military officers were in charge. These included Col. Sterling Price, Lt. Col. John M. Washington, and Col. John Munroe. Kearny had appointed Charles Bent as governor before he left. Sadly, Bent was killed during the Taos Revolt on January 19, 1847. Col. Price then appointed Donaciano Vigil as acting governor. In 1850, a group wanted New Mexico to become a state. They chose Henry Connelly as governor. However, the U.S. government did not officially recognize this choice.

Governors of the New Mexico Territory

The New Mexico Territory was officially set up on December 13, 1850. It remained a territory for 62 years before becoming a state.

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 Gen. Robert B. Mitchell - NARA - 528674 (cropped).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 (cropped).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

Governors of the State of New Mexico

New Mexico officially became a state in the United States on January 6, 1912.

How Governor Terms Changed

The state's first constitution in 1912 said that the governor and lieutenant governor would be elected every four years. In 1914, this was changed to two years. Then, in 1970, it was changed back to four years.

Originally, a governor could not serve two terms in a row. This rule changed in 1914 to allow them to serve twice in a row before taking a break. When the term went back to four years in 1970, they could not serve two terms in a row again. But in 1986, the rule changed back to allow two terms in a row. Since 1962, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected together as a team. If the governor's office becomes empty, the lieutenant governor takes over.


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

More About New Mexico Government

  • List of New Mexico state legislatures

See also

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

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