Michelle Lujan Grisham

Michelle Lujan Grisham
Born	Michelle Lynn Lujan 24 10, 1959
Birthplace	Los Alamos, New Mexico, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Title	Governor of New Mexico
Known for	32nd Governor of New Mexico, first Democratic Latina elected governor in U.S. history
Education	University of New Mexico (BA, JD)
Children	2
Awards	Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (2016)

Michelle Lynn Lujan Grisham (born October 24, 1959) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 32nd governor of New Mexico since January 1, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the first Democratic Latina to be elected governor in United States history. Before assuming the governorship, Lujan Grisham represented New Mexico's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, succeeding Martin Heinrich, who departed to run for the U.S. Senate. Her career in public service has spanned more than two decades, including tenure as New Mexico's secretary of health under Governor Bill Richardson from 2004 to 2007 and as a Bernalillo County commissioner from 2011 to 2012. As governor, Lujan Grisham has focused on issues including education funding, child welfare reform, climate policy, and criminal justice, while also navigating the state through the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, she was reelected to a second term. As of 2026, she is serving the final year of her gubernatorial tenure.

Early Life

Michelle Lynn Lujan was born on October 24, 1959, in Los Alamos, New Mexico. She grew up in a family with deep roots in the state's political and civic life. Her family background includes Hispanic heritage, and she has spoken publicly about the role that her upbringing in New Mexico played in shaping her interest in public policy and community service.

Lujan Grisham's connection to New Mexico politics extends to her extended family. Upon her election to Congress in 2012, media coverage noted that she joined her cousin, Ben Ray Luján, in the U.S. House of Representatives, making them one of the few pairs of cousins to serve simultaneously in Congress.

Education

Lujan Grisham attended the University of New Mexico, where she earned both her Bachelor of Arts degree and her Juris Doctor (JD). Her legal education prepared her for a career that would encompass both law and public policy, and she went on to work in the fields of health care and government administration before entering elected politics.

Career

New Mexico Secretary of Health (2004–2007)

Lujan Grisham's first major appointment in state government came in August 2004, when Governor Bill Richardson named her as the secretary of health of New Mexico. She served in this cabinet-level position until June 2007, overseeing the state's public health infrastructure and programs. During her tenure, she was responsible for directing the New Mexico Department of Health and managing policy initiatives related to health care access and public health. Her predecessor in the role was Patricia Montoya, and she was succeeded by Alfredo Vigil.

The experience Lujan Grisham gained as health secretary provided her with extensive knowledge of state government operations and health care policy — subjects that would later define significant portions of her legislative and gubernatorial agendas.

Bernalillo County Commission (2011–2012)

After leaving the health secretary position, Lujan Grisham entered local elective politics. She was elected to the Bernalillo County Commission, representing the 1st district. She served from 2011 to 2012, succeeding Alan Armijo and being succeeded by Simon Kubiak. Her time as county commissioner gave her experience in local governance, including land use, public safety, and county budgeting, and raised her public profile in the Albuquerque metropolitan area.

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2019)

2012 Election

In 2012, following the decision of U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Bingaman, Lujan Grisham entered the race for New Mexico's 1st congressional district. The district, centered on Albuquerque, was considered competitive but had a Democratic lean. Multiple Democrats sought the nomination. Lujan Grisham won the Democratic primary and advanced to the general election against Republican nominee Janice Arnold-Jones.

On November 6, 2012, Lujan Grisham won the general election decisively. Her victory was part of a broader Democratic sweep in New Mexico, as Heinrich also won his Senate race. Coverage from The Washington Post noted that Lujan Grisham joined her cousin, Ben Ray Luján, in the House, and that the state's growing Latino population contributed to Democratic gains.

Tenure in Congress

Lujan Grisham took office on January 3, 2013, and served three terms in the U.S. House. During her time in Congress, she focused on issues related to health care, veterans' affairs, and immigration policy. She represented a diverse urban district that included Albuquerque and surrounding communities.

In 2014, she won reelection. She was reelected again in 2016, defeating Republican nominee Mike Priem.

Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

In 2016, Lujan Grisham was selected by her colleagues to serve as the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). In this role, she served as a leading voice on Capitol Hill for issues affecting Hispanic and Latino communities across the United States, including immigration reform, economic development, and civil rights. The position raised her national profile and positioned her as a prominent figure within the Democratic Party's leadership on issues of diversity and representation.

Departure from Congress

In 2017, Lujan Grisham announced her intention to run for governor of New Mexico, setting the stage for her departure from Congress at the end of her third term. Her congressional seat was subsequently won by Deb Haaland, who made history as one of the first Native American women elected to Congress. During the final weeks of her congressional term, the federal government experienced a partial government shutdown, and Lujan Grisham participated in House proceedings related to the impasse.

Governor of New Mexico (2019–present)

2018 Election

Lujan Grisham won the Democratic primary for governor in June 2018 and faced Republican nominee Steve Pearce, then a sitting U.S. congressman, in the general election on November 6, 2018. She won the race by a significant margin, becoming the 32nd governor of New Mexico and the first Democratic Latina elected governor in the history of the United States. She succeeded Republican Governor Susana Martinez, who was term-limited.

Lujan Grisham was sworn in on January 1, 2019, with Howie Morales serving as her lieutenant governor.

First Term (2019–2023)

Upon taking office, Lujan Grisham moved to implement a number of policy priorities. Among her early initiatives was a proposal to make college tuition free for all New Mexicans, which she announced in her first weeks as governor. This initiative eventually led to the creation of the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, which provides tuition-free college education to qualifying residents of the state.

One of the significant legislative achievements of her first year in office was the repeal of a pre-statehood-era criminal statute on abortion. In March 2019, the New Mexico Senate voted to repeal the law, which had been on the books but was effectively unenforceable following the Roe v. Wade decision. The repeal was part of Lujan Grisham's broader agenda on reproductive rights.

Lujan Grisham's first term also included the significant challenge of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020. She implemented a series of public health orders, including stay-at-home directives, mask mandates, and business restrictions, drawing both support and criticism from various quarters.

2022 Reelection

In 2022, Lujan Grisham ran for reelection and won a second term as governor, continuing her agenda focused on education, economic development, and public safety.

Second Term (2023–present)

During her second term, Lujan Grisham has continued to focus on child welfare, education reform, public safety, and energy and climate policy.

In January 2026, she signed an executive order banning overnight stays for children in state custody at certain facilities, an action aimed at addressing concerns about the treatment of vulnerable youth in the child welfare system. This executive action drew national attention and was discussed in the context of broader debates about child safety and parental drug use.

In February 2026, the High-Quality Literacy Instruction Act (SB 37) advanced to the governor's desk. The bill was designed to strengthen evidence-based reading instruction for New Mexico students, reflecting Lujan Grisham's emphasis on educational improvement.

During the 2026 New Mexico legislative session — her last regular session as governor due to term limits — Lujan Grisham expressed interest in further action on crime, indicating she had not ruled out calling a special session to address public safety concerns.

On climate and energy policy, Lujan Grisham joined a U.S. delegation of more than 100 local leaders to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil in November 2025, underscoring New Mexico's role in climate policy discussions despite being a major oil- and gas-producing state.

In October 2025, she issued a public statement regarding federal court rulings on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), signaling her administration's opposition to federal actions that could reduce food assistance to New Mexico residents.

Personal Life

Michelle Lujan Grisham has two children. She uses the hyphenated surname Lujan Grisham, combining her birth surname, Lujan, with a married surname. Details about her personal life beyond her immediate family have generally remained private.

Her family's long history in New Mexico has been a recurring theme in her public career. Media coverage of her 2012 congressional victory highlighted her familial connection to Ben Ray Luján, who served in Congress representing New Mexico's 3rd congressional district and later was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Recognition

Lujan Grisham's election as governor in 2018 was recognized as historically significant. She became the first Democratic Latina to be elected governor in the United States, a milestone noted by the National Association of Counties and other organizations. Her selection as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in 2016 also marked a notable achievement in her congressional career, placing her in a leadership role among Latino legislators at the federal level.

During her tenure as governor, Lujan Grisham's participation in national and international forums, including the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Brazil in 2025, has reflected her prominence as a state-level leader engaging with issues of global significance.

Legacy

As of 2026, Lujan Grisham is in the final year of her second and final term as governor, making a full assessment of her legacy premature but certain themes have emerged. Her governorship has been defined by significant investments in education, including the creation of the tuition-free college program that she championed upon first taking office. Her administration's child welfare reforms, including executive actions taken in 2026, have drawn national attention to the state's approach to protecting vulnerable children.

Her historic status as the first Democratic Latina governor in the United States has placed her in a significant position within the broader narrative of Latino political representation in American politics. Her path from state health secretary to county commissioner to congresswoman to governor represents a progression through multiple levels of government that has been relatively uncommon among modern governors.

At the close of the 2026 legislative session, Lujan Grisham reflected on her tenure, expressing gratitude for the work accomplished on behalf of children, families, and the state's economy during her time in office.