Duke Rodriguez, a leading cannabis entrepreneur and former state cabinet secretary, has announced his bid for the Republican nomination for New Mexico governor via newspaper advertisements. He emphasizes guaranteed health care, education reform, public safety and protecting public pensions. Rodriguez joins GOP candidates Gregg Hull and State Sen. Steve Lanier and faces questions about a five-year residency requirement that he says he meets. No Republican has won statewide office in New Mexico since 2016, making the path to victory difficult.
Cannabis Entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez Launches GOP Bid for New Mexico Governor
FILE - Ultra Health president and chief executive officer Duke Rodriguez discusses the medical marijuana industry during a tour of the company's greenhouse in Bernalillo, N.M., April 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)
Duke Rodriguez, one of New Mexico's best-known cannabis entrepreneurs and a former state cabinet secretary, has formally launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor.
Rather than staging a traditional kickoff event, Rodriguez placed newspaper advertisements over the weekend, saying he preferred to engage voters directly and ask them to help spread his ideas. In the ads he framed his campaign as a call to partnership with voters rather than a request for money.
“I’m not asking for money. I’m asking for a running mate. You.”
Campaign Priorities
Rodriguez listed guaranteed health care, strengthening the state's education system, reducing crime and protecting New Mexico's public retirement system as his top priorities. He said those issues will guide his campaign as he seeks to broaden Republican appeal across the state.
Political Context and Opposition
Rodriguez entered the race after several high-profile Republicans declined to run. He joins a GOP field that includes Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and State Senator Steve Lanier of Aztec. Winning statewide will be challenging: no Republican has won statewide office in New Mexico since former Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura in 2016.
Democratic Field
On the Democratic side, a competitive primary is shaping up among former U.S. Interior Secretary and former Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Albuquerque-based District Attorney Sam Bregman, and four-term Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
Background and Business Career
Rodriguez founded Ultra Health in 2010 and serves as the company's president and chief executive. Ultra Health has grown into New Mexico's largest medical cannabis operator. Before launching the company, Rodriguez was secretary of New Mexico's Human Services Department under Governor Gary Johnson and a senior executive at Lovelace Health System.
Residency Questions
Rodriguez's campaign has already faced questions about eligibility under the state Constitution, which requires candidates to have "resided continually" in New Mexico for at least five years prior to election. Rodriguez, who owns homes in Albuquerque and Scottsdale, Arizona, maintains that the residency requirement is not a problem and says he has maintained a New Mexico residence since moving to the state as a teenager in 1971.
As the campaign unfolds, Rodriguez will need to translate name recognition and business success into broader political support in a state that has favored Democrats in recent statewide contests.
