New Mexico
NMHU Names Johnny Montoya Associate Vice President for Government Affairs – New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University has named Johnny Montoya Associate Vice President for Government Affairs. Montoya will begin his role April 1, serving in a leadership position within the university’s Government Relations Division.
Montoya will serve as Associate Vice President for Government Affairs, Strategy and Operations, helping coordinate Highlands’ legislative strategy and engagement with local, state, and federal policymakers while supporting institutional initiatives that advance the university’s mission across northern New Mexico. His work will also support Highlands’ efforts to advance legislative priorities that strengthen student success, infrastructure, and economic development across the region.
Montoya brings extensive experience in government affairs and public policy across both higher education and the private sector. He previously served as Director of State Government Relations at New Mexico State University, where he represented the university before state leaders and coordinated legislative priorities. Most recently, he served as Vice President of State Government Affairs for Windstream’s Kinetic brand, leading public policy and government relations initiatives in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
“Johnny understands how policy decisions shape opportunities for students and communities across New Mexico,” said Neil Woolf, president of New Mexico Highlands University. “His experience working with state leaders and his understanding of the higher education landscape will be a tremendous asset to Highlands as we continue strengthening our partnerships across the state.”
Montoya will work within the university’s Government Relations Division to support legislative priorities and expand Highlands’ engagement with policymakers and community leaders.
“Johnny brings valuable experience from both higher education and the private sector,” said Dave Lepre, Vice President for Government Relations. “He understands the legislative process and has built strong relationships at the Roundhouse that will help Highlands continue advancing its priorities for students and communities throughout northern New Mexico.”
Montoya said he is honored to join Highlands and contribute to the university’s mission.
“New Mexico Highlands University serves an important role for students and communities throughout northern New Mexico,” Montoya said. “I look forward to working with university leadership and policymakers to support Highlands’ priorities and expand opportunities for the students and communities the university serves.”
Native Vote 2026
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Laguna Pueblo woman is the front runner to be New Mexico’s next governor.
Shortly after polls closed Tuesday night, Deb Haaland was declared the winner over Bernalillo County district attorney Sam Bregman in the state’s semi-open Democratic Party primary. As of 11:00 p.m., Haaland carried support from 72% of the Democratic primary voters to Bregman’s 28%, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
“We’re showing everyone that a better future in New Mexico is possible,” she told supporters gathered in Albuquerque’s historic Old Town Plaza. “New Mexicans want a leader who will stand up for working people, and who is ready to take on Donald Trump. I proudly accept your nomination as a Democratic nominee.”
Haaland spoke for 13 minutes, at times through a scratchy throat that required her to pause for water breaks. “Excuse me, I’ve been talking with voters all day,” she said while grabbing a water bottle before hitting her campaign stump notes on affordability, health care and public safety.
She will face Republican Gregg Hull, a former mayor from suburban Rio Rancho that won his party’s three-way primary with 47% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State.
Haaland will be the Democratic Party nominee in a state dominated at every level by Democrats, and is expected to be heavily favored in the general election. With that insight she said her campaign message does translate to Republicans and Independent voters.
“We want our kids to thrive. We want our kids to have a quality, public education. We want every New Mexican to have health care. Everybody wants to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and everybody wants to be able to afford to put a hot meal on their table every night and have a roof over their children’s heads,” she said. “Those issues transcend whatever political spectrum we’re trying to slice and dice people into.”
Shortly after the race was called, Haaland campaign staff, major donors, surrogates, and their families walked from a building on the west side of Albuquerque’s Old Town Plaza to the historic plaza core, where the Haaland campaign had set up a stage and reserved the entire plaza for its victory celebration.
“We are now witnessing history in the making,” New Mexico state Rep. Derrick Lente (Sandia Pueblo) said to supporters immediately after Haaland was declared the winner.
Denise Wilie (Dine) also joined the celebration of Haaland’s victory. Wilie said she worked on get-out-the-vote efforts with the Native American Voters Alliance in McKinley County.
“It just is so exhilarating to even think about, a woman and a Pueblo woman,” she said. “Indigenous all the way, is how I feel. I’m like, yes, let’s get more of our voices.”
Haaland was introduced by her two sisters and walked to the stage escorted by a mariachi band.
Speaking to reporters after the event Haaland reflected on voting for a Pueblo woman (herself) for governor.
“I got emotional, quite frankly, when I went to vote for myself because you do that when you’re a candidate,” she said. “We’ve never had a Native American governor in New Mexico. We’re a multicultural state. I think representation matters, especially in a political era such as this one. So, I’m really proud and honored to carry on the legacy of my ancestors, who worked so incredibly hard to make sure that I had a place here today.”
Related
When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – When a famly unexpectedly loses a loved one, or has someone go missing, the details of what comes next can be overwhelming.
But they don’t have to do it alone thanks to an organization helping New Mexico families with some of those burdens.
Watch the video above for more.
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