| IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 29, 2026 Albuquerque, NM — New Mexico voters should start asking a very simple question: Who is actually running for governor—Deb Haaland or Stephanie Garcia Richard? Again and again, some of the most influential organizations in our state have provided candidates with an opportunity to show up, answer questions and explain their vision for New Mexico. Gregg Hull has shown up. Deb Haaland increasingly has not. At the New Mexico Association of Counties annual conference, Hull was there and Haaland was a no-show. At the New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils forum, Hull showed up to discuss healthcare with community and tribal health leaders from across New Mexico — Haaland did not. Stephanie Garcia Richard appeared instead. KUNM confirmed that the forum featured Hull and Garcia Richard, Haaland’s lieutenant governor running mate. Then, at last week’s New Mexico Municipal League Annual Conference in Las Cruces, Hull again appeared before local government leaders while Garcia Richard substituted for Haaland. The Municipal League conference brought together the mayors, councilors and municipal officials who deal every day with public safety, roads, water, housing and economic development. Most recently, Leadership New Mexico has announced another opportunity on September 2 and, while Hull will be there, Haaland, according to Leadership New Mexico, “is unfortunately unable to join us due to prior commitments.” There is a pattern developing. Counties? Hull shows up. Municipal leaders? Hull shows up. Health councils? Hull shows up. Leadership New Mexico? Hull is showing up. Deb Haaland wants New Mexicans to elect her as our state’s next governor, but Stephanie Garcia Richard is increasingly becoming the one being sent into the room to answer the questions. That isn’t an insignificant distinction. The governor of New Mexico will be responsible for a multibillion-dollar state government, public safety, healthcare, education, water, infrastructure and economic development. The governor will have to work directly with county commissioners, mayors, tribal leaders, healthcare officials and business leaders. Those people deserve to hear directly from the person who wants the job. Sending a surrogate may work on the campaign trail (occasionally), but leadership cannot continually be delegated. Gregg Hull isn’t asking someone else to explain what he believes. He isn’t sending someone else to defend his record. He isn’t avoiding organizations whose members may ask difficult questions. He shows up, and that should matter to voters. Deb Haaland has had opportunities to stand side-by-side with Gregg Hull before some of the people who know New Mexico government best and make the case that she is prepared to lead this state. But, way too often, she has chosen not to be there. So perhaps the question New Mexicans should be asking isn’t just what Deb Haaland’s plan for New Mexico is. It’s this: If Deb Haaland won’t consistently show up to explain her plan while running for governor, why should New Mexicans believe she’ll show up when she’s governor? Gregg Hull is showing New Mexicans exactly what they will get in his leadership by showing them the kind of governor he intends to be. He shows up. ### |
