New Mexico Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, announced Tuesday in an online video that she is running for governor of her state.
In her announcement, Grisham was critical of current Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican who is serving a second term and can't seek re-election in 2018.
"For the last six years, with a governor who has refused to acknowledge problems even exist, we haven't been able to solve anything," Lujan Grisham said in the video.
Grisham was elected as chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus after serving as its first vice chair this session.
Grisham began her career in Congress in 2013. She serves on the House Budget, Agriculture and Oversight and Government Reform committees. Veterans, caregivers for the elderly and disabled and immigration are some of the issues that have been topics of her work and legislation during her time in the House.
A 12th generation New Mexican from Albuquerque, she is a former Bernalillo County Commissioner and served as secretary of Health and of Aging & Long-Term Services in New Mexico.
She is the first candidate to officially enter the race.
Last month, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced he was jumping into the California governror's race.
