Duke Rodriguez, considered one of New Mexico’s most profitable hashish entrepreneurs and a former state cupboard secretary, has formally introduced he’s searching for the Republican nomination for governor.
Fairly than internet hosting an enormous occasion, Rodriguez made the announcement in newspaper commercials over the weekend, saying he would quite have interaction with residents straight and ask for his or her assist in sharing his concepts. Rodriguez cited assured well being care, bettering the state’s training system, preventing crime and safeguarding New Mexico’s public retirement system as priorities.
“I’m not asking for money. I’m asking for a running mate. You,” he wrote within the advertisements.
After a number of high-profile potential Republican candidates handed on the race, the Extremely Well being president and chief government determined to make his transfer.
“I sat back hoping there would be a stronger candidate that I could support,” Rodriguez informed the Albuquerque Journal on Monday. “Truthfully, that never happened.”
Rodriguez joins a GOP discipline that features Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and state Sen. Steve Lanier of Aztec.
Reaching the governor’s workplace gained’t be simple. No Republican has gained election to statewide workplace since former Supreme Court docket Justice Judith Nakamura did so in 2016.
A 3-way race for the Democratic nomination is underway between former congresswoman and U.S. Inside Secretary Deb Haaland, Albuquerque-based District Legal professional Sam Bregman and former four-term Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
Earlier than launching Extremely Well being in 2010, Rodriguez served as secretary of New Mexico’s Human Providers Division beneath former Gov. Gary Johnson and was a senior government for Lovelace Well being System. Extremely Well being has turn into New Mexico’s largest medical hashish firm.
Rodriguez already has confronted questions on his eligibility because of a requirement within the state Structure that candidates should have “resided continually” within the state for a minimum of 5 years earlier than being elected.
Rodriguez, who owns homes in Albuquerque and Scottsdale, Arizona, contends the residency requirement is a nonissue. He stated he has maintained a residence in New Mexico since first shifting to the state as an adolescent in 1971.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
