Former Las Cruces mayor declares candidacy for governor

LAS CRUCES — Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima publicly announced his campaign for governor May 27, adding to a growing field of candidates that will likely include Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull.

Miyagishima, a Democrat who was the longest-serving mayor of the southern New Mexico city from 2007-23, made the announcement during a press conference at the Las Cruces Home Builders Event Center. He had previously said he would decide whether to run by the end of May.

“New Mexico deserves a leader who listens and is dedicated to strengthening our communities,” Miyagishima said, according to a news release. “I will work tirelessly to ensure that every voice is heard and that our policies reflect the diverse needs of our population.”

He said his top priorities as governor would include housing, medical malpractice reform, crime reduction and homelessness, according to the release.

He referred to his campaign website for updates on events, but none were listed for Rio Rancho or Sandoval County. Miyagishima, the former mayor of a city rivaling Rio Rancho in population, said in an interview Tuesday that the Sandoval County city has “got the right combination of a lot of things going for it.”

“The Rio Rancho I see is going to be a major player in both economic development for the state and moving our state forward,” Miyagishima said.

He even joked with Hull, who is expected to mount his own campaign for governor as a Republican, that it is “a matter of time” Hull’s city will surpass the population of Las Cruces. Hull declined comment for this story.

Miyagishima, previously a Doña Ana County commissioner and Las Cruces city councilor, is one of several candidates to join the gubernatorial race to succeed Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is ineligible to run again due to constitutional term limits. Lujan Grisham, who took office in January 2019, won elections in 2018 and 2022.

Miyagishima will face fellow Democrats Sam Bregman, Bernalillo County’s district attorney, and Deb Haaland, the former secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior under former President Joe Biden, in the June 2, 2026, primary election. Miyagishima used his announcement to take aim at his opponents and their previous or current occupations.

“We’ve traveled that path before and witnessed the same unsatisfactory outcomes, consistently ranking low in most areas, except for having one of the highest crime rates in the nation,” Miyagishima said. “This must change.”

Plainly speaking in an interview, he said with a laugh that he’d like Rio Rancho Democrats to “vote for me and not for Deb or Sam.”

“I’m a moderate. I know how to balance budgets and spend money wisely. I know how to invest in economic development,” Miyagishima said.

Republicans expected to announce their candidacies include not only Hull but Brian Cillessen, a filmmaker and outdoorsman, who told the Observer he is expected to decide by August. Retired state Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura told The Albuquerque Journal that she is considering a run for governor. Duke Rodriguez, president and CEO of Ultra Health and a former health care executive, is also weighing a bid for governor, the Journal reported. He said he’s talked to national Republican groups and local GOP officials about the viability of a campaign and expects to make a final decision by the summer, saying he was 90% confident he will join the 2026 race.

Hull is expected to officially announce his candidacy for governor June 2, but as of Tuesday, the campaign had not offered more details.