New Mexico House Republicans Announce New Leadership Team

“I am honored to have the continued trust of my colleagues,” said Rep. Gail Armstrong, as House Republicans in New Mexico announced their leadership team for the legislative session beginning in January.

The Republican caucus in the New Mexico House of Representatives gathered on Thursday to name their team ahead of the upcoming legislative session, Source New Mexico reported. Lawmakers reelected Rep. Gail Armstrong of Magdalena as minority floor leader, a role she has held since the 2025 session when she became the first woman to serve in the position.

Alongside Armstrong, the caucus selected Rep. Rod Montoya of Farmington to replace Rep. Alan Martinez of Rio Rancho as minority whip. Meanwhile, Rep. Nicole Chavez of Albuquerque will step into the role of House Republican Caucus chair.

“New Mexicans want safer communities, a stronger economy and a government that listens to them,” Armstrong said in a statement. “With Rod and Nicole on this team, House Republicans are ready to fight for those priorities and offer real solutions in the upcoming session.”

Both Armstrong and Montoya ran unopposed in the November general election. However, the caucus's political situation changed during the Nov. 3 general election, when New Mexico legislative Democrats unseated four incumbent Republicans. Democrats will hold 47 of the 70 House seats when the new legislative session convenes on Jan. 19 for a 60-day run.

Following the election, Armstrong released a statement pointing to the broader political headwinds, noting that voters had sent a message all the way down the ballot. She added that her caucus plans to stand up to the incoming supermajority, offer real alternatives, and hold Democrats accountable.

Chavez won reelection to her seat by a four-percentage-point margin against Democrat Lisa Curtis. “I am grateful to my colleagues for this opportunity,” Chavez told Source New Mexico. “Families across New Mexico are counting on us to deliver results, and I am ready to help lead our caucus in doing exactly that.”

During the previous legislative push, Armstrong played a central role in advancing medical malpractice reform and joining several interstate medical compacts designed to help licensed professionals from other states practice in New Mexico. At the time, she argued that passing both measures simultaneously was critical to keeping physicians from leaving the state.