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List of Governors of New Mexico

Overview

The following is a list of the Governors of the State of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. Inhabited by Native American populations for many centuries, it has also been part of the Imperial Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain, part of Mexico, and a U.S. territory. Among U.S...

and New Mexico Territory

New Mexico Territory

The Territory of New Mexico was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 6, 1912, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of New Mexico....

.

Twenty-six individuals have held the office of governor of New Mexico since the state's admission to the Union

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

in 1912, two of whom—Edwin L. Mechem

Edwin L. Mechem

Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served three times as Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...

and Bruce King

Bruce King

Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the state of New Mexico.King served in the US Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque....

—served three non-consecutive terms. William C. McDonald

William C. McDonald (governor)

William Calhoun McDonald was the first governor of the State of New Mexico.McDonald moved to New Mexico Territory in 1880 and settled in Lincoln County, where he managed cattle ranches and became active in Democratic politics.McDonald served as New Mexico Fuel Administrator after he left office...

, the first governor, took office on January 6, 1912. The current governor is Bill Richardson, who took office on January 1, 2003; his term will expire in January 2011.

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Encyclopedia

Number of Governors of New Mexico by party affiliation
Party	Governors
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. It is the oldest political party in continuous operation in the United States and it is one of the oldest parties in the world. In the U.S...	19
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP, despite being the younger of the two major parties. In the U.S...	11

New Mexico Territory

.

Twenty-six individuals have held the office of governor of New Mexico since the state's admission to the Union

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

in 1912, two of whom—Edwin L. Mechem

Edwin L. Mechem

Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served three times as Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...

and Bruce King

Bruce King

Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the state of New Mexico.King served in the US Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque....

—served three non-consecutive terms. William C. McDonald

William C. McDonald (governor)

, the first governor, took office on January 6, 1912. The current governor is Bill Richardson, who took office on January 1, 2003; his term will expire in January 2011. Governors are limited to two consecutive terms but a former governor is eligible for reelection after four years.

Governors of the Territory of New Mexico

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1	Charles Bent Charles Bent Charles Bent was appointed as the first Governor of the newly acquired New Mexico Territory by Governor Stephen Watts Kearny in September 1846...	1846	1847
2	James S. Calhoun James S. Calhoun James S. Calhoun was Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1851 to 1852.Calhoun was a member of Georgia state legislature in 1830. He was a mayor of Columbus, Georgia from 1838 to 1839. He became a member of Georgia state senate from 1838 to 1840 and in 1845. He was U.S. Consul in Havana from 1841...	1851	1852	Whig
3	William Carr Lane William Carr Lane William Carr Lane was a doctor and the first Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri, serving from 1823 to 1829 and 1837 to 1840...	1852	1853	Whig
4	David Meriwether David Meriwether (senator) David Meriwether was a United States Senator from Kentucky and Governor of New Mexico Territory.Born in Louisa County, Virginia, Meriwether moved with his parents to Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1803. He attended the common schools and engaged in fur trading in 1818 near what is now Council...	1853	1855	Democrat
5	Abraham Rencher Abraham Rencher Abraham Rencher was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born near Raleigh, North Carolina, August 12, 1798; tutored at home and attended the common schools and Pittsboro Academy; graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1822; studied law; was admitted to...	1857	1861	Democrat
6	Henry Connelly Henry Connelly Henry Connelly served as the Republican Governor of the New Mexico Territory from 1861 until 1866 during the American Civil War. During his term, the territory broke into two, and then three during Connelly's tenure due to the Civil War and administrative problems.Connelly was born in Spencer...	1861	1866	Republican
7	Robert Byington Mitchell Robert Byington Mitchell Robert Byington Mitchell was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and the Governor of the New Mexico Territory from 1866 to 1869.-Early life and career:...	1866	1869	Democratic
8	William Anderson Pile	1869	1871	Republican
9	Marsh Giddings Marsh Giddings Marsh Giddings was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, who was appointed as U.S. consul-general to India and later served as the Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1871 to 1875.-Early life:...	1871	1875	Republican
10	Samuel Beach Axtell Samuel Beach Axtell Samuel Beach Axtell . Notable for being the most controversial Chief Justice of the New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court; corrupted administration as Governor of New Mexico; brief tenure as Governor of Utah; and two term Congressman from California.-Early life:Axtell was born in Franklin County,...	1875	1878	Republican
11	Lew Wallace Lew Wallace Lewis "Lew" Wallace was a lawyer, governor, Union general in the American Civil War, American statesman, and author, best remembered for his historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.-Early life and career:...	1878	1881	Republican
12	Lionel Allen Sheldon Lionel Allen Sheldon Lionel Allen Sheldon was a U.S. Representative from Louisiana. He was Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1881 to 1885.-Early life:Born in Worcester, New York, Sheldon moved with his parents to Lagrange, Ohio...	1881	1885	Republican
13	Edmund G. Ross Edmund G. Ross Edmund Gibson Ross was a politician who represented the state of Kansas after the American Civil War and was later governor of the New Mexico Territory. His vote against convicting of President Andrew Johnson of "high crimes and misdemeanors" allowed Johnson to stay in office by the margin of one...	1885	1889	Democrat
14	L. Bradford Prince L. Bradford Prince LeBaron Bradford Prince was Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1889 to 1893.-Biography:Price was born on July 3, 1840 in Flushing, Queens, New York. He was a delegate to Republican National Convention from New York in 1868. From 1870 to 1874, he was a member of New York State Assembly...	1889	1893	Republican
15	William Taylor Thornton William Taylor Thornton William Taylor Thornton was Governor of New Mexico Territory from 1893 to 1897.-Biography:Thornton was born on February 9, 1843 in Calhoun, Missouri. He served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was member of Missouri state house of representatives in 1876 and member...	1893	1897	Democrat
16	Miguel A. Otero Miguel Antonio Otero (II) Miguel Antonio Otero , nicknamed "Gillie," was governor of New Mexico Territory from 1897 to 1906 and in later life the author of several books on Western lore...	1897	1906	Republican
17	Herbert James Hagerman Herbert James Hagerman Herbert James Hagerman was an American attorney, was the Governor of the New Mexico Territory from 1906 to 1907....	1906	1907	Republican
18	George Curry George Curry (Governor of New Mexico Territory) George Curry was a U.S. military officer and politician. He was born in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. During the Spanish American War he served in Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders...	1907	1910	Republican
19	William J. Mills William J. Mills William Joseph Mills was the 19th governor of the New Mexico Territory, now the U.S. state of New Mexico.-Public Offices:...	1910	1912	Republican

Governors of the State of New Mexico

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1	William C. McDonald William C. McDonald (governor) William Calhoun McDonald was the first governor of the State of New Mexico.McDonald moved to New Mexico Territory in 1880 and settled in Lincoln County, where he managed cattle ranches and became active in Democratic politics.McDonald served as New Mexico Fuel Administrator after he left office...	January 6, 1912	January 1, 1917	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. It is the oldest political party in continuous operation in the United States and it is one of the oldest parties in the world. In the U.S...
2	Ezequiel C. de Baca	January 1, 1917	February 28, 1917	Democratic
3	Washington E. Lindsey	February 28, 1917	January 1, 1919	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP, despite being the younger of the two major parties. In the U.S...
4	Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo served as Governor and Senator from New Mexico. He was the first United States Senator of Mexican-American heritage....	January 1, 1919	January 1, 1921	Republican
5	Merritt C. Mechem Merritt C. Mechem Merritt Cramer Mechem was a territorial Supreme Court justice and one-term Republican governor of New Mexico....	January 1, 1921	January 1, 1923	Republican
6	James F. Hinkle James F. Hinkle James Fielding Hinkle was an American politician and the sixth Governor of New Mexico.- Early life :Hinkle was born in Franklin County, Missouri on October 20, 1864. He studied at the University of Missouri...	January 1, 1923	January 1, 1925	Democratic
7	Arthur T. Hannett Arthur T. Hannett Arthur Thomas Hannett was an American politician who rose to become Governor of New Mexico.He was born in Lyons, New York, the son of William and Mary McCarthy Hannett. After completing high school he entered Syracuse University, where he was graduated in 1910. Hannett came to Gallup, New Mexico...	January 1, 1925	January 1, 1927	Democratic
8	Richard C. Dillon Richard C. Dillon Richard Charles Dillon was an American politician and the eighth Governor of New Mexico. He held governor's office from January 1, 1927 to January 1, 1931.- Early life :...	January 1, 1927	January 1, 1931	Republican
9	Arthur Seligman Arthur Seligman Arthur Seligman was an American businessman and politician.Seligman was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory, the son of Bernard and Frances Seligman. In 1887, Seligman graduated from the Southmore College Preparatory School in Pennsylvania, and from Pierce's College of Business in Philadelphia...	January 1, 1931	September 25, 1933	Democratic
10	Andrew W. Hockenhull Andrew W. Hockenhull Andrew W. Hockenhull was the tenth Governor of New Mexico.Hockenhull was born in rural Missouri. He attended Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 1897, and studied law at the University of Texas at Austin...	September 25, 1933	January 1, 1935	Democratic
11	Clyde Tingley Clyde Tingley Clyde K. Tingley was a U.S. politician who served as Governor of the State of New Mexico. He was a children's healthcare advocate.-Biography:...	January 1, 1935	January 1, 1939	Democratic
12	John E. Miles John E. Miles John Easten Miles was a U.S. politician who served as governor of the state of New Mexico.-Biography:Miles was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He attended the common schools of Tennessee, but left home at the age of seventeen. He settled in Texas and began farming...	January 1, 1939	January 1, 1943	Democratic
13	John J. Dempsey John J. Dempsey John Joseph Dempsey was a United States Representative from New Mexico who also served as Governor of New Mexico. He was born in White Haven, Pennsylvania where he attended grade school. Employed as a telegrapher, he held various positions with the Brooklyn Union Elevator Company...	January 1, 1943	January 1, 1947	Democratic
14	Thomas J. Mabry Thomas J. Mabry Thomas Jewett Mabry was a New Mexico politician and judge, who was Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court and Governor of New Mexico ....	January 1, 1947	January 1, 1951	Democratic
15	Edwin L. Mechem Edwin L. Mechem Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served three times as Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...	January 1, 1951	January 1, 1955	Republican
16	John F. Simms John F. Simms John Field Simms, Jr. was a U.S. politician from the state of New Mexico. He born in Albuquerque and was a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 1947 to 1949. In 1954 he was elected Governor of New Mexico at the age of 38, at the time the youngest governor to be elected in New...	January 1, 1955	January 1, 1957	Democratic
15	Edwin L. Mechem Edwin L. Mechem Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served three times as Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...	January 1, 1957	January 1, 1959	Republican
17	John Burroughs John Burroughs (governor) John Burroughs was a New Mexican businessman and one-term Democratic governor of New Mexico. Burroughs is remembered for honest government and introduction of the concept of a state Personnel Act to improve the quality of state workers and limit somewhat the effect of political patronage.Burroughs...	January 1, 1959	January 1, 1961	Democratic
15	Edwin L. Mechem Edwin L. Mechem Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served three times as Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...	January 1, 1961	November 30, 1962	Republican
18	Tom Bolack Tom Bolack Thomas Felix "Tom" Bolack was a New Mexico businessman and politician, who served as Governor of New Mexico for 32 days in 1962-63.Bolack was a self-educated oilman who learned geology from correspondence courses...	November 30, 1962	January 1, 1963	Republican
19	Jack M. Campbell Jack M. Campbell Jack M. Campbell was the twenty-first Governor of New Mexico from January 1, 1963 until January 1, 1967. Campbell was educated at Washburn University, where he receive an undergraduate degree in 1938] and an LL.B degree in 1940...	January 1, 1963	January 1, 1967	Democratic
20	David F. Cargo David F. Cargo David Francis Cargo is an Albuquerque attorney and a former Republican governor of New Mexico, having served between 1967 and 1971.Cargo was born in Dowagiac, Michigan, in Cass County, north of the Indiana state line....	January 1, 1967	January 1, 1971	Republican
21	Bruce King Bruce King Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the state of New Mexico.King served in the US Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque....	January 1, 1971	January 1, 1975	Democratic
22	Jerry Apodaca Jerry Apodaca Raymond S. "Jerry" Apodaca is a former Governor of New Mexico.Apodaca graduated from the University of New Mexico, and went into the insurance business. In 1965, he was elected to the New Mexico Senate, serving four terms from 1966 to 1974. Apodaca was elected governor of New Mexico as a Democrat...	January 1, 1975	January 1, 1979	Democratic
21	Bruce King Bruce King Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the state of New Mexico.King served in the US Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque....	January 1, 1979	January 1, 1983	Democratic
23	Toney Anaya Toney Anaya Toney Anaya is a U.S. Democratic politician who was born in Moriarty, New Mexico. He went to undergraduate school at Georgetown University and graduated with a law degree from Washington College of Law in 1967. From 1975 to 1978, he served as New Mexico Attorney General. In 1978, he ran for United...	January 1, 1983	January 1, 1987	Democratic
24	Garrey Carruthers Garrey Carruthers Garrey Edward Carruthers currently serves as Dean of the College of Business at New Mexico State University. Previously Carruthers served as Special Assistant to the U.S...	January 1, 1987	January 1, 1991	Republican
21	Bruce King Bruce King Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the state of New Mexico.King served in the US Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque....	January 1, 1991	January 1, 1995	Democratic
25	Gary E. Johnson Gary E. Johnson Gary Earl Johnson was the Republican governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003.-Background:Johnson attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque from 1971 to 1975 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree....	January 1, 1995	January 1, 2003	Republican
26	Bill Richardson Bill Richardson (politician) William Blaine "Bill" Richardson III is a Democratic politician and the current Governor of New Mexico. Prior to being elected governor, Richardson served in the Clinton administration as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary. Richardson has also served as a U.S...	January 1, 2003	Incumbent	Democratic

Other high offices held

This is a table of the higher federal offices and other governorships held by governors. All representatives and senators represented New Mexico. * denotes offices that the governor resigned to take.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Higher offices held
Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo served as Governor and Senator from New Mexico. He was the first United States Senator of Mexican-American heritage....	1919–1921	U.S. Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the lower house being the House of Representatives. The composition and powers of the Senate and the House are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution . Each U.S state is represented by two senators,...
John E. Miles John E. Miles John Easten Miles was a U.S. politician who served as governor of the state of New Mexico.-Biography:Miles was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He attended the common schools of Tennessee, but left home at the age of seventeen. He settled in Texas and began farming...	1939–1943	U.S. Representative United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, commonly referred to as the "House," is the lower house of the bicameral United States Congress, the upper house being the United States Senate. The composition and powers of the House and the Senate are established in Article One of the Constitution...
John J. Dempsey John J. Dempsey John Joseph Dempsey was a United States Representative from New Mexico who also served as Governor of New Mexico. He was born in White Haven, Pennsylvania where he attended grade school. Employed as a telegrapher, he held various positions with the Brooklyn Union Elevator Company...	1943–1947	U.S. Representative
Edwin L. Mechem Edwin L. Mechem Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served three times as Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...	1951–1955, 1957–1959, 1961–1962	U.S. Senator*
Bill Richardson Bill Richardson (politician) William Blaine "Bill" Richardson III is a Democratic politician and the current Governor of New Mexico. Prior to being elected governor, Richardson served in the Clinton administration as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Energy Secretary. Richardson has also served as a U.S...	2003–present	U.S. Representative, U.S. Secretary of Energy United States Secretary of Energy The United States Secretary of Energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fifteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Energy on October 1, 1977, by President Jimmy Carter's... , Ambassador to the United Nations United States Ambassador to the United Nations The United States Ambassador to the United Nations is the leader of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. The position is more formally known as the "Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and...

Living former governors

, six former governors were alive, the oldest being Bruce King

Bruce King

Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the state of New Mexico.King served in the US Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque....

(1971–1975, 1979–1983, 1991–1995, born 1924). The most recent governor to die was Edwin L. Mechem

Edwin L. Mechem

Edwin Leard Mechem was a prominent Republican politician from New Mexico. He served three times as Governor of New Mexico and represented the state in the United States Senate...

(1951–1955, 1957–1959, 1961–1962), on November 27, 2002. The most recently-serving governor to die was Jack M. Campbell

Jack M. Campbell

Jack M. Campbell was the twenty-first Governor of New Mexico from January 1, 1963 until January 1, 1967. Campbell was educated at Washburn University, where he receive an undergraduate degree in 1938] and an LL.B degree in 1940...

(1963–1967), on June 14, 1999.

Name	Gubernatorial term	Date of birth
David F. Cargo David F. Cargo David Francis Cargo is an Albuquerque attorney and a former Republican governor of New Mexico, having served between 1967 and 1971.Cargo was born in Dowagiac, Michigan, in Cass County, north of the Indiana state line....	1967–1971	January 13, 1929
Bruce King Bruce King Bruce King was a three term Democratic governor of the state of New Mexico.King served in the US Army during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque....	1971–1975, 1979–1983, 1991–1995	April 6, 1924
Jerry Apodaca Jerry Apodaca Raymond S. "Jerry" Apodaca is a former Governor of New Mexico.Apodaca graduated from the University of New Mexico, and went into the insurance business. In 1965, he was elected to the New Mexico Senate, serving four terms from 1966 to 1974. Apodaca was elected governor of New Mexico as a Democrat...	1975–1979	October 3, 1934
Toney Anaya Toney Anaya Toney Anaya is a U.S. Democratic politician who was born in Moriarty, New Mexico. He went to undergraduate school at Georgetown University and graduated with a law degree from Washington College of Law in 1967. From 1975 to 1978, he served as New Mexico Attorney General. In 1978, he ran for United...	1983–1987	April 29, 1941
Garrey Carruthers Garrey Carruthers Garrey Edward Carruthers currently serves as Dean of the College of Business at New Mexico State University. Previously Carruthers served as Special Assistant to the U.S...	1987–1991	August 29, 1939
Gary E. Johnson Gary E. Johnson Gary Earl Johnson was the Republican governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003.-Background:Johnson attended the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque from 1971 to 1975 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree....	1995–2003	January 1, 1953

List of Governors of New Mexico

Governors of the Territory of New Mexico

Governors of the State of New Mexico

Other high offices held

Living former governors

See also