Nicole Maxwell, New Mexico Political Report

This article was originally published by New Mexico Political Report.

Former Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagishima, a Democrat, is thinking about running for governor.

Miyagishima, whose political days in Doña Ana County go back to 1992, is thinking about opening an exploratory committee to see about his viability as a candidate.

Candidates in New Mexico are not required to create exploratory committees, but Miyagishima feels like he needs more input before throwing his hat in the ring.

“Candidacy may not be there, but I would at least like to look at it from that point of view,” Miyagishima told NM Political Report via telephone on Tuesday. “I want to help change the environment here in New Mexico and hopefully that would lead to a better life for our residents. And I feel like I need to at least give it a try.”

If Miyagishima decides to run for governor he said he would try to help with people’s issues of financial security, homelessness, housing affordability — including renting a property versus owning it — and tackling crime.

Miyagishima was elected to the Doña Ana County Commission becoming the first Mexican-American of Japanese descent to hold public office in New Mexico. He was re-elected in 1996. He was commission chairman twice in both those terms.

He then successfully ran for Las Cruces City Council in 2001 and won re-election in 2006. The following year, he was elected Las Cruces mayor and was the longest-serving mayor in Las Cruces’ history, serving four consecutive four-year terms.

Miyagishima is one of several people who have either announced their candidacy or noted their interest in a possible run.

Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a Democrat, announced she was officially running for governor and is currently on a campaign blitz across the state through March 2.

Republican Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull is also contemplating a run for governor in 2026 and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman is rumored to be running, but has publicly said he is currently focused on his job as a prosecutor.  

The 2026 gubernatorial election is still about 16 months away.