Governor elected to lead national Democratic Governors Association

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was elected Thursday to lead the national Democratic Governors Association next year.

She is already the vice chair of the organization, a position that put her on track to take over as chairwoman in 2021.

The association is dedicated to electing and supporting Democratic governors.

Lujan Grisham is the third consecutive New Mexico governor to hold a leadership post with a governors association. Susana Martinez served as chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association in the 2016 election cycle, and Bill Richardson led the Democratic Governors Association as chairman in 2005 and 2006.

Lujan Grisham, a former congresswoman from Albuquerque, is approaching the mid-point of her first term as New Mexico governor. She won election two years ago.

Democratic governors picked Lujan Grisham as chairwoman in an online meeting.

The selection comes as Lujan Grisham is at the center of national speculation about whether she will join President-elect Joe Biden's Cabinet. She is believed to be a contender to serve as health and human services secretary, though there have been conflicting reports about whether she is a leading candidate.