Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
| New Mexico Lieutenant Governor | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $144,714 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $818,600 |
| Term limits: | 2 consecutive terms |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | New Mexico Constitution, Article V, Section I |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Howie Morales | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other New Mexico Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Public Lands • Secretary of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Superintendent • Secretary of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources • Secretary of Workforce Solutions • Public Regulation Commission • Public Education Commission | |
The Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico is an elected constitutional officer, the second ranking officer of the executive branch and the first officer in line to succeed the Governor of New Mexico. The lieutenant governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms.
Current officeholder
- See also: Current Lieutenant Governors
The 32nd and current lieutenant governor is Howie Morales (D), who was elected in 2018.[1]
Authority
The New Mexico Constitution establishes the office of lieutenant governor in Article V, the Executive Department.
Under Article V, Section 1:
|
The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor...[2] |
Qualifications
| State Executives |
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| Current Governors |
| Gubernatorial Elections |
| 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 |
| Current Lt. Governors |
| Lt. Governor Elections |
| 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 |
Under Article V, Section 3, a candidate for the lieutenant governorship must be:[2]
- at least 30 years old
- a citizen of the United States
- a resident of New Mexico continuously for five years on the day of the election
Elections
- See also: Gubernatorial election cycles by state
- See also: Election of lieutenant governors
New Mexico elects lieutenant governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026, and 2030). Legally, the lieutenant gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first day in the January following an election.[2]
In the event of a tie vote, the legislature shall convene and cast ballots to choose among the two top vote-getters.[2]
2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Incumbent Howie Morales defeated Anthony Thornton and Efren Gallardo in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Howie Morales (D) | 52.0 | 370,168 | |
| Anthony Thornton (R) | 45.6 | 324,701 | ||
| Efren Gallardo (L) | 2.4 | 17,387 | ||
| Total votes: 712,256 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Travis Sanchez (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Incumbent Howie Morales advanced from the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Howie Morales | 100.0 | 117,293 | |
| Total votes: 117,293 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Anthony Thornton defeated Peggy Muller-Aragon in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Anthony Thornton | 59.7 | 64,386 | |
| Peggy Muller-Aragon | 40.3 | 43,438 | ||
| Total votes: 107,824 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Travis Sanchez advanced from the Libertarian primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Travis Sanchez | 100.0 | 1,175 | |
| Total votes: 1,175 | ||||
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2018
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) defeated U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R) in the general election for governor of New Mexico on November 6, 2018. Incumbent Gov. Susana Martinez (R) was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term, leaving the seat open.
New Mexico had been under a divided government since 2011, with the Republican Party in control of the governorship and the Democratic Party in control of both chambers of the state Legislature. The state was also under divided triplex control, since the governor was a Republican while the attorney general and secretary of state were Democrats.
New Mexico was one of eight states conducting a gubernatorial election in 2018 that was carried by Hillary Clinton (D) in 2016 with a Republican occupying the governor's office. The race was identified by Politico as among the top ten gubernatorial races to watch for 2018.[3]
The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Under New Mexico state law, the state Legislature is responsible for drawing new maps for U.S. House and state legislative seats following the completion of the census. The governor has the power to veto these district map proposals.[4] Click here for more information on redistricting procedures.
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Howie Morales defeated Michelle Garcia Holmes in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Howie Morales (D) | 57.2 | 398,368 | |
| Michelle Garcia Holmes (R) | 42.8 | 298,091 | ||
| Total votes: 696,459 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Howie Morales defeated Rick Miera and Billy Garrett in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Howie Morales | 47.1 | 75,828 | |
| Rick Miera | 31.8 | 51,202 | ||
 | Billy Garrett | 21.1 | 33,949 | |
| Total votes: 160,979 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Michelle Garcia Holmes advanced from the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Michelle Garcia Holmes | 100.0 | 67,681 | |
| Total votes: 67,681 | ||||
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2014
| Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Susana Martinez/John A. Sanchez Incumbent |
57.2% | 293,443 | |
| Democrat | Gary King/Debra Haaland | 42.8% | 219,362 | |
| Total Votes | 512,805 | |||
| Election results via New Mexico Secretary of State | ||||
Term limits
Term limits for the lieutenant governor are established in Article V, Section 1 of the New Mexico Constitution, which prohibits a lieutenant governor from serving more than two consecutive terms.
New Mexico Constitution, Article V, Section 1:
| The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, attorney general and commissioner of public lands, who shall, unless otherwise provided in the constitution of New Mexico, be elected for terms of four years beginning on the first day of January next after their election. The governor and lieutenant governor shall be elected jointly by the casting by each voter of a single vote applicable to both offices. Such officers shall, after having served two terms in a state office, be ineligible to hold that state office until one full term has intervened. |
Vacancies
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article V, Section 7.
The lieutenant governor is the first the succeed whenever the governor's chair is vacant or whenever the elected governor is incapacitated. The same line on succession that applies after the lieutenant governor applies when the office of the lieutenant governor is vacant or when the lieutenant governor is unable to serve.
First in the line of succession is the New Mexico Secretary of State, followed by the President Pro Tem of the New Mexico State Senate and then the Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives.[2]
Duties
The lieutenant governor serves as the president of the New Mexico Senate, acting governor when the governor is absent from the state, and member of the Executive Cabinet.[5]
Additionally, the lieutenant governor serves on the following boards and commissions:[5]
- State Board of Finance
- New Mexico Border Authority
- New Mexico Children’s Cabinet
- Community Development Council
- Military Base Planning Commission
- Mortgage Finance Authority
- New Mexico Spaceport Authority
- New Mexico Youth Alliance
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: New Mexico state budget and finances
The budget for the New Mexico Lieutenant Governor's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $818,600.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of state executive officers are established by the New Mexico State Legislature as mandated in the state constitution. Article V, Section 12 of the New Mexico Constitution established initial salaries for constitutional officers with the state legislature able to adjust these salaries starting in 1922, which was 10 years after the state's admission to the United States. This constitutional provision states the following:[7]
| Text of Section 12:
Compensation of Executive Officers The annual compensation to be paid to the officers mentioned in Section One of this article shall be as follows: governor, five thousand dollars [($5,000)]; secretary of state, three thousand dollars [($3,000)]; state auditor, three thousand dollars [($3,000)]; state treasurer, three thousand dollars [($3,000)]; attorney general, four thousand dollars [($4,000)]; superintendent of public instruction, three thousand dollars [$3,000)]; and commissioner of public lands, three thousand dollars [($3,000)]; which compensation shall be paid to the respective officers in equal quarterly payments. The lieutenant governor shall receive ten dollars [($10.00)] per diem while acting as presiding officer of the senate and mileage at the same rate as a state senator. The compensation herein fixed shall be full payment for all services rendered by said officers and they shall receive no other fees or compensation whatsoever. The compensation of any of said officers may be increased or decreased by law after the expiration of ten years from the date of the admission of New Mexico as a state. |
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $144,714, according to New Mexico Statutes.[8]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $85,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2020
In 2020, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2019
In 2019, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2018
In 2018, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2017
In 2017, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2016
In 2016, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2015
In 2015, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2014
In 2014, the lieutenant governor received a salary of $85,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2013
In 2013, the lieutenant governor's salary remained at $85,000.[18]
2010
As of 2010, the lieutenant governor was paid $85,000, the 26th highest lieutenant gubernatorial salary in America.[19]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New Mexico Lieutenant Governor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
State Capitol
490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 417
Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501
Toll Free: (505) 476-2250
See also
| New Mexico | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, "About the Lt. Governor," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State, "Constitution," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Politico, "The top 10 governor’s races of 2018," December 31, 2017
- ↑ All about Redistricting, "Who draws the lines?" accessed January 24, 2018
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Office of the New Mexico Lieutenant Governor, "Duties of the Lt. Gov.," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ New Mexico State Legislature, "New Mexico General Appropriation Act of 2024," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ New Mexico Compilation Commission, "8-1-1 Compensation of elective state officers," accessed February 25, 2015
- ↑ Justia US Law, "2023 New Mexico Statutes Chapter 8 - Elected Officials Article 1 - Compensation Section 8-1-1 - Compensation of elective state officers," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ [1]
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