Heinrich says he won’t run for New Mexico governor

By Timothy Cama | 01/24/2025 04:15 PM EST

The top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee said that witnessing President Donald Trump’s actions this past week convinced him to stay in the Senate.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) on Jan. 15, 2025.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said "the stakes are too high" for him to leave Congress. Francis Chung/POLITICO

Sen. Martin Heinrich has decided against a run for governor of New Mexico.

The newly minted top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee had considered a run for the seat that’s open in 2026, but he announced Friday that he decided against it after seeing President Donald Trump’s initial days back in office for his second term.

“It’s clear to me that New Mexico needs a strong voice in Washington now more than ever — the stakes are simply too high,” Heinrich said in a statement.

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“President Trump’s alarming actions this week — attacking birthright citizenship, pardoning criminals that assaulted police officers, and rolling back American energy leadership — these actions hurt families, endanger our democracy, and threaten the future of our public lands and natural resources,” he continued.

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