New Mexico Gov.-elect Deb Haaland, who on Tuesday became the first Native American woman ever elected governor in the U.S., began taking over from fellow Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday and vowed to protect the outgoing governor's universal childcare and early education programs.
The two met Friday morning on the fourth floor of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, where Lujan Grisham offered her successor advice before a joint news conference. Haaland was visibly emotional as the pair embraced in the lobby of the governor's office.
It is the second time Haaland has followed Lujan Grisham into office. After Lujan Grisham won the governorship in 2018, Haaland succeeded her in Congress representing the 1st Congressional District, and Lujan Grisham said she was glad to hand power to someone she has long known and respected.
Haaland has already set out early priorities. After taking office in January, she plans to use an executive order to freeze new large-scale data center developments, giving the state Legislature time to write guardrails for such projects.
She also said this week that naming a new leader for the state's beleaguered child welfare agency would be a priority. And she said she would start immediately on a budget for the 60-day legislative session that opens Jan. 19.
Beyond childcare, Haaland said she wants to build on the current administration with investments in health care, affordable housing and affordability for families, crediting Lujan Grisham with lifting many New Mexicans out of poverty.
Lujan Grisham departs with a mixed record. New Mexico still ranks poorly nationally on crime, education and child welfare, yet her tenure brought significant growth in state trust funds, scholarships for tuition-free college degrees and the nation's first universal childcare program.
The running mates had their own handoff. Outgoing Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, whom Lujan Grisham credited with championing childcare as a state senator, urged incoming Lt. Gov. Stephanie Garcia Richard, now the state land commissioner, to keep traveling beyond Santa Fe and Albuquerque, calling New Mexico very much a rural state.
Garcia Richard, who shares a Silver City high school alma mater with Morales, said she intends to take that advice and to keep the close working relationship with the governor that Morales maintained.
