New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will take center stage during a prime-time speaking slot Tuesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The governor, who was vetted as a potential running mate of the Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, is scheduled to talk about health care — a speaking engagement that will surely fuel speculation about her political future.
While Lujan Grisham has focused on crime and public safety in New Mexico of late, health care, particularly women's reproductive rights, has long been a topic of importance to the governor, who served as the state's Cabinet health secretary from 2004 to 2007.
“I think it’s reasonable to conclude that Michelle Lujan Grisham could be strongly considered for a Cabinet post if Kamala Harris were to win the election,” Brian Sanderoff, an Albuquerque political analyst and longtime pollster, said Monday.
Sanderoff noted Lujan Grisham, who was considered for a Cabinet post under the Biden administration, brings a wide variety of experiences to the table, from being a former state Cabinet secretary to serving as a county commissioner, congresswoman and now governor. In addition, Lujan Grisham “has always been a loyal Democrat” who has supported Democratic candidates at the local, state and national level, he said.
“She checks a lot of the boxes both in terms of her demographic and professional and political experiences,” Sanderoff said.
Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce described Lujan Grisham’s appearance at the DNC as politically opportunistic.
“This is not the first attempt Gov. Lujan Grisham has made to advance her career, ditch her job, and escape the mess she and Democrats have made in the state of New Mexico,” Pearce said in a statement. “Jobs are leaving, our young people are moving, and crime has become an everyday threat to both businesses and families.”
The decision to have Lujan Grisham speak at the DNC — despite New Mexico being named by ConsumerAffairs as the second-worst state to move to and by U.S. News and World Report as the most dangerous state in the nation, based on violent and property crime rates — is a “clear metaphor” for the direction the Democratic Party wants to lead the country, Pearce said.
“The Democratic Party has made it clear that Kamala Harris is campaigning to take America down the same path that has left New Mexicans poorer and less safe,” he said.
Coleman also declined to comment when asked about the content of the governor’s speech.
Jessica Velasquez, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, said the party knows Lujan Grisham will make the state proud on the convention stage. She added the governor’s strong leadership at the state level has propelled her into being a national leader in the Democratic Party.
“With her experience and record of delivering for New Mexicans, we’re thrilled that she will be speaking to the entire nation on the critical issue of healthcare at our Convention and firing up a stadium full of Democrats who are ready to carry Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz to victory,” Velasquez said in a statement.
Gabriel Sanchez, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico, wrote in an email “Lujan Grisham’s role at the DNC reflects both the importance of the Latino vote to Democrats’ goal of maintaining the presidency and the Governor’s connection to Vice President Harris.”
Politico reported earlier this month Lujan Grisham was vetted as a potential vice presidential nominee on Harris’ ticket.
Lujan Grisham has known Harris since they served in Congress together. They also share a special moment in the governor’s life: Harris officiated Lujan Grisham’s May 2022 wedding to Manny Cordova in Washington, D.C.
A day after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, Lujan Grisham “wholeheartedly” endorsed Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.
“Our Governor can play a pivotal role in mobilizing Latino voters for Harris, and especially Latinas, a sub-group of Latinos I believe will be the key to Democrats chances in November,” Sanchez wrote.
He noted Lujan Grisham’s place on the short list of potential vice presidential candidates. “So we know that Harris thinks highly of our Governor’s skills and reputation,” he said. “This obviously will lead to speculation of potential roles for the Governor in the Harris administration if she wins in November.”
Sanderoff also said Lujan Grisham’s prime-time speaking address demonstrates the importance of the Hispanic vote to the Harris campaign.
“As a female Hispanic governor, she brings a special symbolism to the Democratic Party,” he said.
While Hispanics tend to be loyal Democratic voters, Sanderoff said there was an “energy issue problem” with President Joe Biden on the ballot.
“With Kamala Harris getting in the race, I think there’s a sense of renewed energy among young people, people of color … and having someone like Michelle Lujan Grisham speak at the convention is a symbol of the Harris campaign’s focus on winning both the female and Hispanic vote by large margins,” he said.
Lujan Grisham spoke at the 2016 and 2020 conventions. At the 2016 DNC, Lujan Grisham, then a congresswoman, stumped for Hillary Clinton, who lost to Republican Donald Trump. Four years later, she stressed the need to invest in clean energy jobs to avert what she called “the environmental annihilation” posed by Trump’s administration.
Potential for a Cabinet Position
Lujan Grisham’s appearance at the DNC, particularly her prime-time slot, has sparked speculation about a potential Cabinet position in a Harris administration. Some political observers have suggested that her experience in health care and her connections to Harris could make her a strong candidate.
The outcome of the 2024 presidential election will likely determine whether Lujan Grisham’s appearance at the DNC translates into a national role. However, her speech is sure to be a focal point of attention, as it could provide insight into her political aspirations and her potential impact on the national political landscape.
