2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
New Mexico's budget depends on oil and gas for something like a quarter to a third of state revenue, and the two candidates differ on whether the state should expand that production or steer it toward cleaner operations — a choice that runs directly into how the state pays for schools and health care.
2 candidates · ballot order · open seat
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Lowering the cost of living and expanding affordable housing.
Education: supporting teachers and increasing school funding.
Health care, including protecting reproductive health care and expanding addiction treatment.
Public safety and building trust between communities and law enforcement.
Energy: 'I will work to ensure extractive industries move toward cleaner operations, clean up after themselves' — with wind and solar development and plugging abandoned wells, rather than stated production limits.
Protecting sacred lands and the environment, and safeguarding civil rights.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior, 2021-2025; the first Native American Cabinet secretary.
U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 1st congressional district, 2019-2021; chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico before that; nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014.
Member of the Pueblo of Laguna.
As Interior Secretary, oversaw a pause on new federal oil and gas leasing.
Won the June 2 2026 Democratic primary with about 72% over Sam Bregman.
Announced an 'affordability agenda' in February 2026 as the centrepiece of her campaign.
Arguments in favor
She has run a federal department of tens of thousands of employees and represented New Mexico in Congress, which is more executive experience than any other candidate in the race brings.
— Deb Haaland for New Mexico campaign
Her plan is built around what New Mexicans say costs them most — housing, groceries, childcare and health care — rather than around national fights.
— Deb Haaland for New Mexico campaign
'While Deb's opponent is aligning himself with an extreme agenda that helps Donald Trump make New Mexicans sicker, poorer, and hungrier, Deb is laser focused on putting money back in New Mexicans' pockets and protecting and expanding access to healthcare.'
— Hannah Menchhoff, Haaland campaign spokesperson
Arguments against
'Deb Haaland represents more of the same, but worse for New Mexico.' She had one of the most liberal voting records in Congress, and as Interior Secretary she targeted the state's number one industry, hurting Navajo allottees who depend on oil and gas royalties.
— Amy Barela, chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico
'Secretary Haaland's record on energy policy raises important questions for New Mexico, where oil and natural gas production is central to our economy.'
— Missi Currier, president of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association
'Whenever you talk about diminishing, declining, or you know, flat out eliminating that industry in the state of New Mexico, it puts everybody on edge.'
— Gregg Hull, Republican nominee
What we couldn’t verify
Whether she would seek any limits on state oil and gas leasing or production; her campaign material does not say, and her federal record and her campaign language point in different directions.
How she would replace oil and gas revenue if production falls, given it funds roughly a quarter to a third of the state budget.
Her campaign finance totals were not located.
Her running mate for lieutenant governor could not be confirmed from a source read directly.
Public safety: more police presence statewide, a zero-tolerance policy for violent crimes and crimes against children.
Border security to 'end the fentanyl crisis.'
Energy: 'unleash oil and gas' and streamline permitting.
Jobs, business growth and infrastructure.
Education and health care access.
On abortion: he says he is 'fully committed to working with Governor Abbott' of Texas on the issue, objecting that 'our state funds out-of-state parties coming in to pay for those procedures here in the state,' while acknowledging that 'the legislature has passed the law, and unless the legislature flips, this doesn't change.'
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Mayor of Rio Rancho from a 2014 run-off through 2026; re-elected to a third four-year term in March 2022.
Doubled the Rio Rancho police budget during his time as mayor and pursued pro-business development policies.
Businessman before entering local office.
Won the June 2 2026 Republican primary with about 47% over Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez.
Endorsed by former Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagishima after Miyagishima ended his independent campaign.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that he missed child support payments in court proceedings running from the 1990s into the 2000s; Hull said he had forgotten about the proceedings.
Arguments in favor
He ran New Mexico's third largest city for twelve years, doubling its police budget and growing its economy — a record of executive results rather than federal policy.
— Hull for New Mexico campaign
He would unleash oil and gas production and streamline permitting, protecting the industry that funds a quarter to a third of the state budget.
— Hull for New Mexico campaign
He says he will focus on problem-solving rather than party labels, and picked up the endorsement of a former Democratic mayor who had been running as an independent.
— Ken Miyagishima, former Las Cruces mayor
Arguments against
He is 'a Republican Trump lackey,' and his stated willingness to work with Texas Governor Greg Abbott shows he would roll back New Mexico's reproductive health protections. Hull disputes this, saying he lacks the authority to change the law without the legislature.
— Daniel Garcia, Democratic Party of New Mexico spokesperson
Crime rose significantly in Rio Rancho on his watch: the city had eight homicide investigations in 2024, as many as in the three previous years combined.
— Democratic Party of New Mexico
He cannot be trusted with public money, and reporting has shown he skipped child support payments over a period running from the 1990s into the 2000s.
— Democratic Party of New Mexico, citing Santa Fe New Mexican reporting
What we couldn’t verify
What specific abortion policy he would pursue as governor, given his acknowledgement that the legislature controls the law.
How increased oil and gas production would be reconciled with New Mexico's water constraints.
His campaign finance totals were not located.
His running mate for lieutenant governor could not be confirmed from a source read directly.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Open seat: Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham is term-limited. Roster established from Wikipedia's race page, Source New Mexico, New Mexico Political Report, the Albuquerque Journal and E&E News, cross-checked. In the June 2 2026 primaries, former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination with about 72% over district attorney Sam Bregman; Rio Rancho mayor Gregg Hull won the Republican nomination with about 47% over Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez. Former Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagishima, who had been running as an independent under the Forward Party banner, withdrew and endorsed Hull; no other independent or third-party candidate was found on the general election ballot. Oil and gas, which supply roughly a quarter to a third of state revenue, have emerged as the dominant issue.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New Mexico ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New Mexico Secretary of State.