Latest news with #HowieMorales
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lt. Gov. Howie Morales announces he will not run for governor
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – With only one year left in his term, Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales has announced his next steps following his time in office. He made a formal announcement on Sunday, stating that he will not be seeking a bid for the governorship next year after serving alongside Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for seven years. 'After careful consideration and extensive communication with my family and supporters across the state, I have made the decision not to run for governor this election cycle. I am grateful for the time I've been able to serve in the executive as lieutenant governor,' said Morales. Morales has been the lieutenant governor since 2019, when he and Governor Lujan Grisham won the election and were subsequently re-elected in 2022. Before joining the executive branch, Morales served as a state senator representing western New Mexico from 2008 to 2019. Governor declares state of emergency due to severe drought in New Mexico One of the main reasons Morales cited for his decision not to run for governor was his family. 'My son is in eighth grade, and my daughter is going to be a junior in high school. I am very involved in their activities; I coach their teams, and we do homework at night—all those type of things that really are valuable to me. Running a statewide campaign really takes a lot of time, a lot of demands that would take me away from them. And I want to make sure that I can focus that time with them because you never get those years back.' Regarding his future plans, Morales reassured that he is not retiring. There was previously speculation that he might seek the presidency of Western New Mexico University, and he stated that option remains on the table. Over the next year, Morales plans to work with state leaders to address critical issues facing New Mexico, particularly regarding crime and the expansion of mental health resources. Democratic prosecutor in crime-torn Albuquerque launches bid for New Mexico governor With only one year left as lieutenant governor, Morales emphasized that much work still lies ahead. 'Why not focus more on mental health, behavioral health opportunities? Why not have more access for housing? These are the type of things that we're going to continue to work on, as well as addressing public safety. I think that's a concern to people across the state. And we're going to continue to work together with the legislature to come up with some solutions,' says Morales. While Morales may not be pursuing a new elected office this election cycle, he encourages those in public service to remember why they run for office and to keep the voices of New Mexico as their primary focus. Prior to his public office, Morales was an educator in Silver City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Howie Morales to forego run for governor, but says he's not done with politics
Jun. 8—SANTA FE — After more than 20 years in elected office, Howie Morales is planning to take a break from the political arena. New Mexico's lieutenant governor said Sunday he would not be running for governor next year, a decision he attributed to a desire to spend more time with his two teenage children. "I'm at peace not pursuing another statewide race," Morales told the Journal. "Right now, my commitment is to them." His decision leaves three Democrats in the 2026 gubernatorial contest — former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman and former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima. The race has already seen big fundraising hauls from several candidates, even though there's still roughly a year until next year's primary election. Haaland announced last month she has received nearly $3.7 million in donations, while Bregman said he raked in more than $1 million in the five weeks after announcing his campaign. The fundraising amounts are both impressive and intimidating, Morales said. He also expressed concern about the role of money in state politics. As for what might comes next, Morales said he plans to finish out the roughly 18 months left on the term he was elected to in 2022. He also acknowledged possible interest in the president job at Western New Mexico University, after previous WNMU president Joseph Shepard stepped down in January following an ethics scandal. Specifically, Morales said he was "watching it closely" as university officials move forward with a presidential search. A Silver City native and former educator, Morales served as Grant County clerk before being appointed to fill an open state Senate seat in 2008. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2014, but won a three-way Democratic primary race to be the party's lieutenant governor nominee in 2018. Morales, running on a ticket with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, was then elected lieutenant governor that year and reelected four years later. In the lieutenant governor post, Morales presides over the Senate during legislative sessions and serves as acting governor while Lujan Grisham is traveling outside New Mexico. Earlier this year, Morales signed more than 30 executive orders freeing up state funding for disaster recovery efforts in the Ruidoso and Roswell areas while Lujan Grisham was on a trade mission in Asia. Morales, 52, said he's worked well with the governor and described working with rural New Mexico communities as one of his top accomplishments as lieutenant governor. While Morales ruled out a run for governor next year, he said that doesn't mean he might not run for elected office again in the future. "I'm not in any way saying I'm retiring from politics," he said in the Sunday interview, citing his relatively young age and political connections. Meanwhile, Morales is not the only high-profile Democrat to decide against a 2026 gubernatorial campaign after considering such a run. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich did likewise in January, just two weeks before Haaland announced her candidacy. Whomever wins next year's Democratic primary will likely be the favorite in the general election race, since no Republican has won a statewide contest since former Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura did so in 2016. The GOP field is still taking shape, with several potential candidates mulling over possible runs. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull is the only Republican who has confirmed his candidacy so far, though Hull postponed his planned campaign launch earlier this month. Some groups have already issued endorsements in the Democratic primary race, but Morales said it's still too early to say whether he'll publicly back a candidate.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The clock is ticking: See which bills NM Gov has signed, vetoed
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lt. Governor Howie Morales speak at a post-session news conference March 22. The governor has one more week to act on 169 remaining bills that lawmakers sent her. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source NM) The Legislature sent nearly 200 bills to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for a signature by the end of the 60-day legislative session March 22. The governor has another week to act on those bills. If she doesn't by April 11, they are vetoed. Lawmakers this session unanimously passed House Joint Resolution 2, which would remove the governor's ability to veto bills simply by not acting on them, known as a pocket veto. Voters will have the power to approve that change in the next general election, unless a special election arises before that. So far, the governor has signed 24 bills and vetoed two others. That leaves 169 bills hanging in the balance. With a week left, where do things stand? See a list below of all the bills the governor has signed, what she's vetoed, and what is still on the chopping block.
