Governor | Term Start | Term End | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| William C. McDonald | Jan 14, 1912 | Jan 1, 1917 | Democratic |
| Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca | Jan 1, 1917 | Feb 18, 1917 | Democratic |
| Washington Lindsey | Feb 18, 1917 | Jan 1, 1919 | Republican |
| Octaviano Larrazolo | Jan 1, 1919 | Jan 1, 1921 | Republican |
| Merritt C. Mechem | Jan 1, 1921 | Jan 1, 1923 | Republican |
| James F. Hinkle | Jan 1, 1923 | Jan 1, 1925 | Democratic |
| Arthur T. Hannett | Jan 1, 1925 | Jan 1, 1927 | Democratic |
| Richard C. Dillon | Jan 1, 1927 | Jan 1, 1931 | Republican |
| Arthur Seligman | Jan 1, 1931 | Sep 25, 1933 | Democratic |
| Andrew W. Hockenhull | Sep 25, 1933 | Jan 1, 1935 | Democratic |
| Clyde Tingley | Jan 1, 1935 | Jan 1, 1939 | Democratic |
| John E. Miles | Jan 1, 1939 | Jan 1, 1943 | Democratic |
| John J. Dempsey | Jan 1, 1943 | Jan 1, 1947 | Democratic |
| Thomas J. Mabry | Jan 1, 1947 | Jan 1, 1951 | Democratic |
| Edwin L. Mechem | Jan 1, 1951 | Jan 1, 1955 | Republican |
| John F. Simms | Jan 1, 1955 | Jan 1, 1957 | Democratic |
| Edwin L. Mechem | Jan 1, 1957 | Jan 1, 1959 | Republican |
| John Burroughs | Jan 1, 1959 | Jan 1, 1961 | Democratic |
| Edwin L. Mechem | Jan 1, 1961 | Nov 30, 1962 | Republican |
| Tom Bolack | Nov 30, 1962 | Jan 1, 1963 | Republican |
| Jack M. Campbell | Jan 1, 1963 | Jan 1, 1967 | Democratic |
| David Cargo | Jan 1, 1967 | Jan 1, 1971 | Republican |
| Bruce King | Jan 1, 1971 | Jan 1, 1975 | Democratic |
| Jerry Apodaca | Jan 1, 1975 | Jan 1, 1979 | Democratic |
| Bruce King | Jan 1, 1979 | Jan 1, 1983 | Democratic |
| Toney Anaya | Jan 1, 1983 | Jan 1, 1987 | Democratic |
| Garrey Carruthers | Jan 1, 1987 | Jan 1, 1991 | Republican |
| Bruce King | Jan 1, 1991 | Jan 1, 1995 | Democratic |
| Gary Johnson | Jan 1, 1995 | Jan 1, 2003 | Republican |
| Bill Richardson | Jan 1, 2003 | Jan 1, 2011 | Democratic |
| Susana Martinez | Jan 1, 2011 | Jan 1, 2019 | Republican |
| Michelle Lujan Grisham | Jan 1, 2019 | - | Democratic |
New Mexico governors have a storied history, and it is one that the 32nd and current governor Michelle Lujan Grisham surely wouldn't mind following. Serving as the state's leader since 2019, Democrat Lujan Grisham won reelection after her first term in New Mexico's highest office. The former U.S. Representative also undoubtedly wouldn't mind seeing the former Democratic-controlled State (from 1971 to 1987) become so again. Dubbed the Land of Enchantment, largely because of its scenic and vast landscapes, New Mexico is now home to more than two million people. For New Mexico governors, that is potentially two million votes and people who will be impacted by the State's leadership.
To date, the leadership of New Mexico has the state heading in a positive direction. It is also worth noting that as the state continues to grow, so does the influence of New Mexico governors and other state representatives. How that will impact the future of this still wide-open state is yet to be seen, but New Mexico governors will be in a position to take the lead.
The first governor of New Mexico was William Calhoun McDonald. The Democrat served from 1912-1917. Interestingly enough, the state of New Mexico had three different governors during 1917. McDonald was followed by Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca, who held office for only about six weeks. De Baca became seriously ill and died only six weeks after his inauguration. Washington Ellsworth Lindsey was sworn in the following day and served as the state's governor until 1919.
Before current governor Grisham, the governor of New Mexico was Republican Susana Martinez who held the office from 2011 to 2019. The two governors before Martinez-- Democrat Bill Richardson and Republican Gary E. Johnson-- also served for eight-year terms. While there is a fairly balanced split between Democratic and Republican leadership in the recent past, New Mexico only had four Republican governors from 1912 to 1961. The other twelve governors during that time period were all Republican.
The current governor of New Mexico is Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat.
There have been 28 governors of New Mexico, 18 Democrats, 10 Republicans, and 0 from other parties.
The last Democratic governor in New Mexico is Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has served from 2019 to the present day.
The last Republican governor in New Mexico was Susana Martinez, who served from 2011 to 2019.