Governor’s Race 2026: What we’ve heard and what we’ve confirmed
Rumors abound as to which high-ranking Democrat will run for governor in 2026
Nicole Maxwell, NM Political Report
Although no one has confirmed on record that they are planning to run for governor in 2026, rumors abound about three prominent Democrats: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Sen. Martin Heinrich and 2nd Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman.
A potential two-cornered primary contest was reported by Axios. Attempts to confirm or deny the rumors on record came up short.
A spokeswoman for the Department of the Interior could not offer comment on whether or not Haaland is going to run for governor in 2026.
Haaland legally cannot run for office while she is still a government employee per the Hatch Act of 1939 which limits some political activities by some federal workers as a means of preventing political coercion.
Although so far, there is no confirmation that Haaland is planning to run for governor, she does have support from at least one office-holding Democrat.
Her congressional successor Rep. Melanie Stansbury, who represents the 1st Congressional District in New Mexico, is supportive of a gubernatorial run should Haaland take that route.
“Deb is finishing her four years serving as Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Interior, and I think that if she decides to run for governor of New Mexico, she will do an amazing job,” Stansbury told NM Political Report by phone. “It will be a historic run. She would be the first woman Native American governor to ever serve in the United States.”
Stansbury added that Haaland has “done really historic work as Secretary of the Interior.”
“I think that Deb is in an amazing position to come home and to serve our state if she decides to, if she decides to run for governor,” Stansbury said.
Heinrich and Bregman are both focused on their current positions and the foreseeable future.
“Senator Heinrich is honored to have been re-elected by the people of New Mexico to continue fighting for them in the U.S. Senate,” Heinrich campaign spokeswoman Caty Payette told NM Political Report via email. “His focus remains squarely on delivering results for New Mexico families — creating good-paying jobs, lowering the cost of living, protecting our public lands and defending fundamental rights and freedoms. Throughout his career, Senator Heinrich has always prioritized what’s best for New Mexico, and that will continue to guide his work moving forward.”
Heinrich was also recently named the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He is also Joint Economic Committee Chairman. He’s also Chairman of the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies and he serves on the Select Committee on Intelligence.
The 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Nancy Laflin didn’t have much to say about Bregman’s possible intention to run for higher office.
“Right now, DA Bregman is focusing on the upcoming legislative session and doing everything he can to make New Mexico safer,” Laflin told NM Political Report via text message.
Nicole Maxwell is a reporter for New Mexico Political Report.