Republican Las Cruces woman vying governorship talks Hull, Rio Rancho

LAS CRUCES — A Republican Las Cruces businesswoman running for governor recently shared her thoughts with the Observer on her potential challenger, Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, and her priorities for the city.

Belinda Robertson, 47, a sales manager, fitness and personal trainer, announced her run for office in February, months before Hull teased his candidacy in April. Hull later postponed his scheduled June 2 announcement as he works to shore up support throughout the state before making his intentions official.

Robertson, who responded to the Observer’s questions via email, wrote that she wants to be a historic candidate as the youngest governor — although news reports say David Francis Cargo, who served in the role from 1967-71, held that title at the age of 37.

Priorities for Robertson include supporting police departments, veterans, business owners and people with disabilities. She would also like to reduce crime, delinquency and the state’s homeless population.

She did not offer specifics on how she would address each of those issues, but she did say she would like to offer healthier school menus, owing to her own weight loss journey.

Robertson wrote that actions Hull took during his mayoral administration will help residents of Rio Rancho and elsewhere in the state determine if he is “the right person” for governor.

“If Greg (sic) can not (sic) help to control the Crime and Delinquency in New Mexico, (he is not qualified to be) a Governor of the State of New Mexico,” Robertson wrote.

Though early in her campaign and a relatively unknown figure, Robertson’s candidacy has not gone without controversy. The Republican Party of New Mexico said she registered with the party in March 2025 only after the GOP requested New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s office examine her filing since she was a registered Democrat at the time she filed her candidacy.

Robertson denied those accusations, noting that she was a Republican as far back as 2016. She also cited the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, protecting her right to freedom of expression.

She also has a presence on social media, where she often shares provocative pictures of herself. Asked by the Observer whether voters will question her qualifications for high office based on the images, Robertson issued a blunt response: “l like to be sexy.”

The mother of four children added, “l will Reflect outside what l have inside. God Bless America!”

Robertson noted she has visited Rio Rancho before but is unsure of future campaign appearances in the area.

After earning a biology degree from a university in Mexico, Robertson earned three degrees from New Mexico State University in American English literature, nursing as well as business administration and management.