New Mexico Transition: Haaland Names Top Aides
The governor-elect has selected her transition director and operations chief, with an inauguration scheduled for January 1.
By Emmanuel Faure ·
Deb Haaland will serve as New Mexico's 33rd governor for a period of seven weeks following her election victory. She announced the leadership structure for her transition team on Thursday. The incoming administration plans to meet with outgoing Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday. The meeting will take place at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.
Haaland selected Dylan McArthur, her campaign manager, to serve as transition director. She also appointed Joan Mooney as chief operations officer for the transition team. Mooney previously worked under Haaland during her tenure as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Two other campaign staffers received appointments to the transition team, though their specific roles were not detailed in the announcement.
The incoming governor stated she is prepared to begin work immediately. During a Wednesday press conference in Albuquerque, she cited her experience leading the U.S. Department of the Interior under President Joe Biden. She said, "My experience has prepared me to be the next governor of New Mexico." She added that she is ready to hit the ground running to advance the state's priorities.
Haaland defeated Republican candidate Gregg Hull in a decisive election held on Tuesday. She pledged to move quickly after the vote. Her inauguration is set for January 1. She plans to begin vetting candidates for Cabinet positions in the coming days. It is not yet determined whether she will retain any secretaries from the current administration or install a new team.
This transition marks the second time Haaland has taken office from Lujan Grisham. In 2018, Lujan Grisham stepped aside from her congressional seat to run for governor. Haaland won that seat. The two politicians previously shared office staff. Lujan Grisham supported a smooth handoff in power. She advised the incoming governor to build strong ties with state legislators.
In a previous interview, Lujan Grisham urged her successor to maintain relationships with lawmakers. She said, "My advice to a governor is remember to have fun, take a breath if you're going to be as assertive as I think you should be and remember how invaluable and important these relationships (with legislators) are." Haaland will meet with Lujan Grisham on Friday to coordinate the change in leadership.
