Rio Rancho mayor becomes first Republican to enter gubernatorial race
Gregg Hull, Rio Rancho's longest-serving mayor, is breaking ground as the first Republican to enter the race for governor.
Hull, who is serving his third term as mayor of New Mexico's third-largest city, plans to officially launch his campaign in June but has already been busy fundraising. This week, he reported $206,000 in campaign contributions since January.
Hull declined a request for an interview.
"Mayor Gregg Hull appreciates the outpouring of support and encouragement he has received to run for Governor of New Mexico," Corey Stevens, a spokesperson for Hull's campaign, said in a statement.
"Over the coming weeks, Mayor Hull will continue to meet with New Mexicans, local leaders, and Republican stakeholders leading up to an official kickoff event on June 2, 2025," Stevens added.
Although his official launch is two months away, Hull's gubernatorial campaign is well underway, not only with fundraising but also a website with a video that reveals his early messaging: New Mexico should emulate Rio Rancho's success in public safety and other metrics statewide.
The 56-second video touts Rio Rancho as the safest city in New Mexico and one of the top 100 best places to live in America, among other accolades.
"Now we can do better for New Mexico," reads text in the video. "It's time for a change. It's time for New Mexico's mayor."
The Democratic Party of New Mexico immediately pounced on Hull, asserting crime in Rio Rancho has seen a "significant increase" during Hull's tenure. The party provided a link to a report showing the eight homicide investigations in Rio Rancho in 2024 equaled the total number investigated in the three previous years.
"New Mexicans remember how disastrous a Republican Governor can be for our state," the Democratic Party wrote in a news release, stating the last GOP governor, Susana Martinez, "destroyed" the state's behavioral health system and had an "abysmal economic and jobs record."
"Under Democratic leadership, New Mexico has been a national leader in protecting abortion rights and reproductive healthcare, transitioning to a clean energy economy, early childhood education, and much more," party spokesperson Daniel Garcia said in a statement.
"New Mexicans can't risk reversing our progress in so many key areas by having a Republican Trump lackey as the top executive in our state," Garcia added. "It has taken years to recover from the profoundly negative effect New Mexico's last Republican governor had on our state."
The Hull campaign did not respond to a request for comment from the Democratic Party of New Mexico's assertions.
His campaign website — gregghull.com — makes no mention he is a Republican, indicating he is running a general election and not just a primary race.
Although he is the first Republican to jump into the race, Hull is the third candidate to announce a bid for governor.
Democrats Deb Haaland, a former congresswoman and U.S. interior secretary, and Sam Bregman, who is currently serving as the district attorney in Bernalillo County, officially launched their campaigns in February and April, respectively.
Hull says on his website he has focused on infrastructure improvement, public safety and economic development during his tenure as mayor.
"Through his dedication to infrastructure, public safety, economic growth, and quality of life, Gregg continues to lead Rio Rancho toward a prosperous future," the website states. "Now, he wants to do the same for ALL New Mexicans."
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