Las Cruces’ longest-serving modern mayor abandoned a planned ballot-access appeal and urged his supporters to back the GOP nominee

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

LAS CRUCES - Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima ended his independent campaign for New Mexico governor Friday and endorsed Republican nominee Gregg Hull, abandoning a planned appeal over his failure to qualify for the November ballot.

Miyagishima, who served four consecutive terms as Las Cruces mayor from 2007 through 2023, announced the decision in a campaign release and posts to his social media accounts.

“It’s crucial to focus on advancing New Mexico, and I believe that Mayor Gregg Hull has the best platform,” Miyagishima wrote. “We need to collaborate to ensure that New Mexico reaches its full potential.”

The endorsement crosses party lines. Miyagishima entered the governor’s race as a Democrat, then left the party and withdrew from its primary in February to pursue an independent bid. Las Cruces municipal elections are nonpartisan, but Miyagishima had previously sought office in Democratic primaries and served two terms on the Doña Ana County Commission.

He is the longest-serving mayor in Las Cruces’ modern history.

Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho, won the Republican nomination for governor in the June 2 primary.

Miyagishima said he has known Hull for nearly 12 years and described him as intelligent, hardworking and committed to New Mexico.

“My goal is to help transform Mayor Hull into Governor Hull, deliver for the southwestern part of our state, and close the gap in our Native American communities,” Miyagishima said in the release. “I am eager to mobilize support in southern New Mexico and our native lands for our future governor, Gregg Hull.”

Hull said in Miyagishima’s campaign release that the endorsement reflected a “shared commitment to the people of New Mexico.”

“Ken’s support demonstrates our shared commitment to the people of New Mexico,” Hull said. “Together, we will tackle the challenges in our communities, stimulate our economy, and ensure that every New Mexican has a voice in government.”

Miyagishima began the campaign as a candidate in the Democratic primary but withdrew shortly before the February filing deadline and pursued a place on the general-election ballot as an independent.

Independent candidates for statewide office were required to submit 14,574 valid petition signatures.

Miyagishima submitted more than 20,000 signatures, but election officials determined that 11,553 were valid, according to previous reporting by Source New Mexico. A state district judge later rejected his lawsuit challenging the signature requirement and his exclusion from the ballot.

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Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima says he plans to appeal after a judge dismissed his ballot access lawsuit and he filed fewer signatures than needed for the Nov. 3 ballot.

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Miyagishima had said he intended to appeal the decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court. Friday’s announcement said he had decided against pursuing that appeal.

In a Facebook post, Miyagishima said he and running mate JC Lopez gathered 28,800 signatures during a 90-day campaign. He thanked Lopez, campaign workers, volunteers and his wife, Rosie, before urging supporters to join Hull’s campaign.

“I realized that the best way to make a difference in New Mexico is by teaming up with my good friend, and former Mayor Gregg Hull,” Miyagishima wrote. “If you’re interested in helping elect Gregg, please reach out.”

The general election is Nov. 3.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.