Haaland Names Transition Team Leaders

Governor-elect Deb Haaland named her transition team leadership on Thursday to guide the handoff of power over the next seven weeks.

The Democratic candidate selected Dylan McArthur, her campaign manager, to serve as transition director. She also appointed two additional campaign staffers to the team. Joan Mooney, who worked for Haaland during her tenure as U.S. Interior secretary, was named chief operations officer.

Haaland plans to meet with outgoing Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. The two leaders will discuss the process of transferring executive authority. Lujan Grisham has pledged to facilitate a smooth transition.

During a Wednesday press conference in Albuquerque, Haaland stated that her prior experience prepared her for the governorship. She specifically cited her time leading the U.S. Department of Interior under former President Joe Biden. “I feel ready to move our priorities forward for the people of New Mexico … and ready to hit the ground running,” she said.

Haaland defeated Republican Gregg Hull in a decisive Tuesday election. She is the state’s 33rd governor. Her inauguration is scheduled for Jan. 1. She plans to begin vetting potential Cabinet secretaries in the coming days. It is not yet clear if she will retain any members of Lujan Grisham’s current cabinet or assemble an entirely new team.

This will be the second time Haaland has succeeded Lujan Grisham in office. Haaland was elected in 2018 to the Albuquerque-based congressional seat that Lujan Grisham previously held. Lujan Grisham said in a May interview that the two women shared office staff before and after the 2018 transition. During that same interview, Lujan Grisham advised her successor to build strong ties with lawmakers. “My advice to a governor is remember to have fun, take a breath if you’re going to be as assertive as I think you should be and remember how invaluable and important these relationships (with legislators) are,” Lujan Grisham said.