Rio Rancho hasn't always been the powerhouse it is now. Back in 2014, when Gregg Hull first stepped into the mayor's office, the city was growing, sure, but it felt a little like it was searching for an identity beyond being Albuquerque’s big neighbor. Fast forward twelve years. Hull is now the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. He’s seen it through a pandemic, massive infrastructure shifts, and a population boom that turned it into one of the state's most critical economic hubs. Now, he’s making a play for the Roundhouse.
The official announcement for the Gregg Hull for governor campaign didn’t just drop out of nowhere. It followed months of what Hull called a "listening tour." He spent a lot of time on the road, hitting towns that feel forgotten by the Santa Fe establishment. Honestly, that’s kind of his whole pitch: he’s the "problem-solver" who doesn't care about the R or D next to a name. Or at least, that’s what he wants you to believe while he navigates a primary field that includes State Senator Steve Lanier and businessman Duke Rodriguez.
The Rio Rancho Blueprint
If you want to understand what a Hull administration might look like, you have to look at Rio Rancho. People keep calling it the "safest city in New Mexico," a title Hull wears like a badge of honor. He doubled the police budget during his tenure. That wasn’t just a random spike in spending; it was a targeted effort to keep up with a city that was suddenly becoming the place where everyone wanted to raise their kids.
He often talks about the "pragmatic approach." In city government, if the water doesn't run or the roads are full of potholes, people don't care about your ideology. They just want it fixed. Hull spent over a decade dealing with those "strenuous regulatory challenges" he mentions in his campaign speeches. Before he was "Mayor Hull," he was an entrepreneur. He ran a commercial crating company and a motorhome resale business. Dealing with the state’s red tape from the outside gave him a pretty specific chip on his shoulder about how New Mexico treats small business owners.
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Why the 2026 Race is Different
New Mexico hasn’t had a Republican governor since Susana Martinez left office in 2019. Since then, Democrats have basically swept every statewide office. The legislative sessions have been dominated by the blue team. But Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is term-limited, which opens up a massive vacuum.
Hull entered the race as the first major Republican contender in October 2025. He’s facing a Democratic field that’s already looking crowded. You’ve got former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Bernalillo County DA Sam Bregman, and former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. It’s going to be a slugfest.
The Gregg Hull for governor platform centers on a few specific pillars:
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- Public Safety: He’s calling for a "zero-tolerance" approach to crime. This includes revisiting the state’s bail reform laws and pushing for changes to juvenile justice statutes.
- The Healthcare Crisis: New Mexico is bleeding doctors. Hull’s plan involves using state funds to underwrite medical school degrees, provided those graduates stay and practice in the state.
- Vocational Education: He’s big on "school choice," but he specifically highlights construction trades and vocational training. He wants the state’s financial resources to go toward building a workforce that actually stays in New Mexico.
The Signature Hurdle
Just getting on the ballot in New Mexico isn't a "check the box" situation. Candidates need to collect over 2,000 signatures from their party members by a February 3 deadline. As of early January 2026, Hull’s campaign reported they had already cleared that threshold.
His fundraising numbers have been interesting, too. While he’s the mayor of Rio Rancho, a significant chunk of his financial support has actually come from outside the city. That suggests his message is resonating with Republicans in the southern part of the state and the oil-rich Permian Basin, where voters often feel like the current administration’s environmental policies are a direct threat to their livelihood.
Addressing the Skeptics
Can a "pragmatic" Republican actually win in a state that has trended so far left? That’s the million-dollar question. Hull likes to point to the fact that Rio Rancho’s elections are non-partisan. He’s used to working with people who don't agree with him on everything.
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However, his stance on "school choice" is a lightning rod. Critics argue that diverting funds toward private or parochial options—even if it's framed as "parental oversight"—could further weaken an already struggling public school system. Hull has been a bit vague on the specifics of the funding, saying it’s "too soon" to commit to public money for private schools, but the intent is clearly there.
Then there’s the issue of bail reform. Hull wants to roll back some of the protections that keep people out of jail while awaiting trial. He argues this is necessary to stop the "revolving door" of crime in places like Albuquerque. Opponents say this will just lead to overcrowded jails and unfairly target low-income individuals who can’t afford bail. It’s a classic New Mexico debate that hasn’t been settled in decades.
What Happens Next
The primary is set for June 2, 2026. Between now and then, Hull has to convince the Republican base that he’s conservative enough to represent them, while simultaneously convincing moderate voters that he’s not too "partisan" to lead a blue-leaning state.
His "listening tour" is still going. He’s leaning hard into his identity as a family man—five kids, nine grandkids—and a guy who has lived in the state for 35 years. He isn't a career politician who started in the legislature; he’s a business guy who got into local government because he was tired of how things were run.
If you're following the Gregg Hull for governor campaign, the next few months are the real test. Watch the signature filing on February 3 and the first major televised debates. That's where we'll see if his Rio Rancho success can actually scale to the rest of the Land of Enchantment.
Actionable Steps for New Mexico Voters
- Verify Your Registration: Ensure your voter registration is up to date through the New Mexico Secretary of State website before the June primary.
- Attend a Town Hall: Hull frequently updates his campaign schedule; attending a local event is the best way to ask direct questions about his specific plans for your county.
- Review the Primary Field: Compare Hull’s infrastructure and crime proposals against other Republican candidates like Steve Lanier to see whose "pragmatism" aligns with your priorities.
- Monitor Legislative Changes: Keep an eye on the 2026 legislative session in Santa Fe, as many of Hull's campaign themes—like bail reform and healthcare subsidies—are being actively debated now.