Hull 'committed' to gubernatorial bid, unclear on mayorship

RIO RANCHO — While he has yet to hold a kickoff event for his 2026 gubernatorial campaign, Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull said recently he’s “committed to the run.”

But in his first comments to the Observer about his bid for the state’s highest elected office, Hull declined to touch on whether he’ll seek a fourth term as his city’s mayor next year. He did say, however, he expects to make a decision sooner than the January filing deadline.

Questions about Hull’s gubernatorial campaign and his political future came Aug. 17, during the Mayor’s Sunday is Funday at Haynes Park, where his campaign put up a canopy.

“We’re in it,” Hull said at the event regarding his intention to run for governor.

He added that he will be doing “some sort” of campaign kickoff event, but the details are still being worked out. He also plans to conduct interviews with members of the news media following the kickoff.

Until then, Hull is able to look back on the first few months of his campaign.

In mid-April, Hull filed his first campaign finance report, showing he raised over $200,000. That same month, his campaign issued its first news release, stating he would announce his intentions to run June 2 — exactly a year from the primary. But a second release, which came out on that day, said he would postpone his announcement to continue listening to voters ahead of a formal launch.

In a recent interview, Hull said the listening tour has involved some 40 cities throughout the state.

“Most New Mexicans are concerned about a lot of the very same things,” including public safety, education, health care and economic opportunity, he said.

“But then again, as we move around the state ... every community has something different that they’re a little bit concerned about,” Hull added.

During Sunday is Funday, the mayor worked people with a grip and grin as they who passed by his campaign canopy. Other people came up to Hull simply share a laugh or to tell him of their support.

Some residents, including Michelle Gonzales, are sold on the the idea of Hull running for governor.

“He’s got the community’s best interests at heart,” Gonzales said, adding she views the mayor as a problem solver based on meetings she has held between him and other community stakeholders.