Rio Rancho Mayor Hull Steps Back After 2026 Loss

Gregg Hull conceded the race for New Mexico governor on Tuesday night, acknowledging a loss to Democrat Deb Haaland. Hull, who served as mayor of Rio Rancho for several years, stated he intends to stay involved in public life. He described his next steps as a period of rest before determining his long-term political path.

Hull admitted defeat shortly after 10 p.m. He told reporters he was proud of the campaign strategy he employed. He expressed support for Haaland, noting that the state relies on her success. "She ran a good campaign, and I wish her the best of luck because New Mexico is depending on it," Hull said.

The former Rio Rancho mayor said he plans to take a few days off to sleep and discuss future plans with his wife. He emphasized his family ties to the state, including his children and grandchildren. "We love this state, we want to see the best for it and, again, our kids are here. Our grandkids are here, and New Mexico is our home," Hull said. He added that the family will continue to fight for New Mexico.

Unofficial results showed the race was close in Sandoval County. This is the county where Hull served as mayor of its largest city, Rio Rancho. Despite the close contest, the county results leaned toward Haaland. Hull’s running mate for lieutenant governor, David Gallegos, analyzed the outcome. Gallegos attributed the result to a single-party voting habit among some voters.

Gallegos said he was raised a Democrat and believed many voters followed that pattern without considering individual merit. "I think there’s still a fundamental belief that you just go single party without consideration of the value of the individual," Gallegos said. He argued that the reputations of Hull and himself should have encouraged voters to think beyond a two-year horizon.

Hull stated he accomplished his primary campaign goals. He said he brought attention to issues in healthcare, the economy, and the Children, Youth and Families Department. He claimed the campaign fostered honest conversations about solutions. "And through the conversations we’ve had, we’ve brought awareness to folks through the experiences that I’ve had that says we can fix these things. We don’t have to accept it," Hull said.

The loss occurred during a national trend where Democrats gained seats. Many Republican states saw legislative shifts, including in Texas. In New Mexico, voters cited the state of democracy and the economy as top issues in a pre-election Associated Press poll. Paul Wymer, the current Rio Rancho mayor and a Republican, said he was disappointed by the result. He said he expected to work well with the Haaland administration, similar to how the city cooperated with the Lujan Grisham administration.

Hull’s watch party was held at the Hotel Albuquerque. Doug Turner, a conservative who ran against Hull in the June primaries, attended the event. Turner acknowledged the challenge of being a minority party in the state. He noted that many attendees were realists about the odds. Hull danced with family members before officially conceding. He told reporters he was not hurt by the loss and felt he ran a clean campaign. "I’m very happy, and I’m not disappointed. I’m not hurt," Hull said.