The lieutenant governor of New Mexico ( es, Lista de Vicegobernadores de Nuevo México) is an elected official in the state of

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

that ranks just below the

governor of New Mexico , insignia = Seal of the Governor of New Mexico.svg , insigniasize = 110px , insigniacaption = Seal of the Governor , image = File:Michelle Lujan Grisham 2021.jpg , imagesize = 200px , alt = , incumbent = Michelle Lujan Grisham , incu ...

. The lieutenant governor is the first person in the

order of succession An order of succession or right of succession is the line of individuals necessitated to hold a high office when it becomes vacated such as head of state or an honour such as a title of nobility.New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

executive branch The Executive, also referred as the Executive branch or Executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a State (polity), state. In poli ...

, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal,

impeachment Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In ...

, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the

. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term. This position was first filled by

Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca (November 1, 1864 – February 18, 1917) was the first Hispano elected for office as lieutenant governor in New Mexico's first election. His term as lieutenant governor was followed by his election as the second elect ...

on January 6, 1912, the year that New Mexico became a state. The current lieutenant governor is

Howie Morales Henry C. "Howie" Morales (born January 5, 1973) is an American politician and educator serving as the 30th lieutenant governor of New Mexico. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the New Mexico State Senator from the 28th ...

, a member of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. While governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket in the general election, the offices run separately in primary elections. The last lieutenant governor to succeed the governorship was

Tom Bolack Tom or TOM may refer to: * Tom (given name), a diminutive of Thomas or Tomás or an independent Aramaic given name (and a list of people with the name) Characters * Tom Anderson, a character in '' Beavis and Butt-Head'' * Tom Beck, a character ...

, following the resignation of Edwin L. Mechem on November 30, 1962.

is the only lieutenant governor to be elected as governor in a later term. Previously, the New Mexico State Constitution did not allow for the nomination of a replacement for lieutenant governor after the governor's office was succeeded; this is the reason the Governor number is higher than the lieutenant governor. Section 16 of Article VI of the New Mexico State Constitution (added on November 4, 2008) gives the governor the power to nominate a replacement for lieutenant governor upon confirmation of the nominee by a majority of the

New Mexico State Senate The New Mexico Senate ( es, Senado de Nuevo México) is the upper house of the New Mexico State Legislature. The Senate consists of 42 members, with each senator representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts across the state ...

List of lieutenant governors of New Mexico

Since admission into the Union, New Mexico has had 27 lieutenant governors, two of whom have served non-consecutive terms.

Living former lieutenant governors

, there are five living former lieutenant governors of New Mexico, the oldest being

Casey Luna Casey E. Luna (born May 26, 1931) is an American politician, businessman, and racing driver who served as Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico from 1991 to 1995, under Governor Bruce King. He is also a businessman who formerly ran an automobile deale ...

(served 1991–1995, born 1931). The most recent and most recently serving former lieutenant governor to die was Jack L. Stahl (served 1987–1991, born 1934) on December 29, 2016.

Notes

References

{{Lists of lieutenant governors by U.S. state *