By DIANE DENISH
Corner To Corner
diane@dianedenish.com

I’ve often thought the process of electing a Governor and Lt. Governor in NM resembles an arranged marriage.

In New Mexico, candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor are nominated separately in the primary election. They run separate campaigns, raise money through separate accounts, and develop their own strategies. Then, on primary election night, the winners are brought together to form a ticket. The marriage begins.

The Lt. Governor’s role during the general election campaign is limited. The gubernatorial candidate and campaign team call the shots, while the Lt. Governor candidate listens, learns, and supports the effort. Whatever role the running mate plays depends largely on the wishes of the gubernatorial nominee and, possibly, the campaign staff.

Ideally, there is a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between the two candidates. Sometimes, however, political or personal differences create tensions that can carry over into an administration. In my experience, those tensions are often fueled by staff members rather than the candidates themselves. Strong leaders are usually able to look beyond minor disagreements and focus on governing.

This year, Democrats nominated Deb Haaland for Governor and Maggie Toulouse Oliver for Lt. Governor. Republicans nominated Greg Hull and David Gallegos. The table was set for the general election.

Then, in mid-June, things changed. The Republican ticket remained intact, but Democratic Lt. Governor nominee Maggie Toulouse Oliver suspended her campaign for health reasons and later withdrew from the ticket altogether.

The gubernatorial campaign must continue, and a new running mate must be selected. Under state law, that responsibility falls to the Democratic State Central Committee, a body of 489 Democrats from across New Mexico.

Before making her endorsement, Deb Haaland invited interested candidates to interview with her so she could make a thoughtful recommendation. She has now done so. Whether the State Central Committee follows her recommendation remains to be seen when members meet on July 25.

Just as Haaland reportedly questioned prospective candidates before making her choice, I believe Central Committee members should ask questions of their own.

For context, the Lt. Governor’s constitutional duties are mostly ceremonial. They include serving as President of the Senate and casting tie-breaking votes when necessary, serving as an ombudsman and advocate for citizens dealing with state agencies, and acting as Governor whenever the Governor is out of state. The ombudsman role was added in the 1970s when lawmakers transformed what had largely been a part-time position into one that could be full-time and salaried. In 2024, the Legislature approved salary increases for executive branch offices, including the Lt. Governor, beginning in January 2027.

As a member of the Democratic State Central Committee and a former Lt. Governor, I have been thinking about how best to fill the vacancy. In hindsight, one of the most important responsibilities may be the authority to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

That responsibility alone suggests committee members should ask candidates how they think about difficult policy questions and contentious legislation.

For example, if legislation were introduced to weaken the medical malpractice reforms enacted in 2026, how would they vote? If lawmakers proposed removing the Children, Youth and Families Department from the Governor’s authority and placing it under a different governing structure, what position would they take?

Committee members might also ask how candidates view their relationship with the Governor. What role do they see for themselves in an administration and in what policy areas? Beyond specific questions, committee members should ask themselves which candidate best reflects their values, possesses the judgment necessary for the office, and could step into the Governor’s role if circumstances required it.

I have written before—and still believe—that the role a Lt. Governor ultimately plays depends entirely on the quality of the relationship with the Governor. When there is trust and mutual respect, a Governor can provide the resources, authority, and responsibility needed for a Lt. Governor to be successful.

During this campaign, candidates talked about challenging Donald Trump, improving education, increasing affordability, and expanding access to health care. But the Lt. Governor’s role in those issues, if any, is advise and support.

Now 489 people have the responsibility of choosing a partner to make the arranged marriage work.

It is an important decision, let’s hope it works.