The mayor of Rio Rancho is considering running for the Republican nomination for governor of New Mexico.
While Gregg Hull is in the middle of his third term as mayor of the City of Vision and has yet to confirm or deny that he will run for reelection in 2026, rumors are swirling that he has bigger plans.
Hull told the Sandoval Signpost that he has been contacted about running for governor but has yet to decide.
“I’ve been approached by a lot of individuals to look at the possibility and I’m currently weighing all of my options,” Hull said.
Hull was elected as Rio Rancho mayor in 2014, his first foray into politics after a lengthy career in business. Rio Rancho is the second most populous city in the state.
Republican sources, who are not authorized to speak publicly, told the Signpost that Hull is gauging support among Republicans for a run to replace Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who is term-limited and cannot run again in 2026.
Republicans have not won a statewide election in New Mexico since 2016, when Judith Nakamura won reelection to the state Supreme Court.
Republican Susana Martinez won two terms as governor before Lujan Grisham’s time in office. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich are each reportedly exploring a run for the Democratic nomination for governor.