Harold Pope, Jr.

Provide a short bio of yourself and tell us how you got into public service?

I’m State Sen. Harold Pope Jr., and I’m proud to serve the people of District 23 and New Mexico. I was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, as the oldest of five children, with deep family roots in Northern New Mexico.

After high school, I enlisted in the United States Air Force, beginning a career of more than 20 years of service. I later earned my commission and served in multiple roles before retiring honorably in 2018. I have a B.S. in Biochemistry, M.A. in Operational Leadership, M.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and an Executive MBA. I am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University.

I never saw myself running for office—no one in my family had ever served but I stepped up because I wasn’t satisfied with what was happening in Santa Fe. I entered public service to be a voice for people who felt unheard.

In 2020, I made history as the first African American elected to the New Mexico Senate. Since then, I’ve fought for working families, veterans, seniors, our youth, and our communities. I’m running for lieutenant governor to keep showing up, listening, and building a stronger New Mexico.

The lieutenant governor’s formal duties are limited — how would you define the job beyond presiding over the senate?

The formal duties of the lieutenant governor may be limited on paper, but the opportunity to lead, advocate, and serve is anything but. I define this role as being a bridge between the people of New Mexico and the decisions being made on the 4th floor.

It means showing up in communities across our state, not just during election season, but consistently listening to people’s lived experiences, and making sure their voices are heard where it matters most.

As lieutenant governor, I would use the platform to elevate the issues that families are facing every day like affordability, access to healthcare, quality education, and good-paying jobs, while working to ensure those priorities are reflected in policy and budget decisions.

That also means working collaboratively with legislators, the governor, and community leaders to move solutions forward, not just manage the process.

I also believe this role should be a convener by bringing together stakeholders, advocates, and everyday New Mexicans to break through bureaucracy and deliver results. Too often, people feel unheard or left out of the process.

My job is to change that. At the end of the day, it’s about service. Showing up, listening, and being a voice for the people, not special/corporate interests, or the billionaire class.

What is one issue you would take ownership of in this role—and how would you move it forward without direct executive authority?

If I had to take ownership of one issue, it would be affordability because it cuts across everything: housing, healthcare, wages, and the basic cost of living. Too many New Mexicans are working hard and still struggling to make ends meet, and that has to change.

Even without direct executive authority, I would move this forward through agenda-setting and public advocacy. I would use the platform of the lieutenant governor’s office to consistently elevate affordability as the top priority bringing together legislators, advocates, small businesses, and working families to shape real localized solutions.

That means convening working groups on housing and cost of living, partnering with the legislature to advance policies like expanding affordable housing and down payment assistance, lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs, increasing wages, and lowering taxes.

It also means showing up in communities across the state and listening, lifting up lived experiences, and making sure those voices are driving the policy conversation.

I would also use the visibility of the office to build public momentum because when people are organized and engaged, policy follows. This is how we lead without direct authority: by showing up, setting the agenda, and making sure government is focused on delivering real relief for working families.

How would you handle a disagreement with the governor from your own party—and can you give an example of where you might diverge?

I believe leadership means being honest, principled, and willing to stand up for the people, even when that means having a respectful disagreement with your own party or the governor. If I were to disagree with the governor, I would handle it directly and constructively by grounding that conversation in facts, community impact, and the voices of the people most affected.

I wouldn’t make it personal or political; I would make it about the impacts and outcomes of our communities and people. My responsibility is to New Mexicans first, and that means being willing to raise concerns, offer solutions, and work toward a path forward that truly serves the people.

A clear example where I may diverge is on the unchecked expansion of large-scale data centers in our state. While I understand the interest in economic development, I have serious concerns about their impact on our water resources, harmful emissions, energy grid, and long-term costs to ratepayers.

We cannot afford to prioritize corporate incentives over the sustainability of our communities, especially in a state already facing water scarcity and affordability challenges. I would advocate for stronger safeguards, transparency, community voices, and accountability. Ensuring that any development aligns with our environmental realities and delivers real, equitable benefits to New Mexicans.

At the end of the day, this is about people not corporate profits. I will always show up, listen, and make sure their voices are represented on the 4th floor and beyond.

Presiding over the senate requires neutrality—how would you balance that with being an advocate for your own policy priorities?

As lieutenant governor, I take the responsibility of presiding over the Senate seriously. The legislature is a co-equal branch of government, and it is the role of senators to debate, shape, and pass the laws.

When I’m in the chair, my job is clear: I do not debate, I do not advocate from the floor, and I only vote in the case of a tie. My responsibility is to run the floor professionally, fairly, and with integrity by ensuring every member is heard and that decorum is maintained.

At the same time, neutrality on the floor does not mean silence outside of it. I will continue to be an advocate in our communities by showing up, listening, and elevating the voices of New Mexicans. I will engage with stakeholders, work with legislators, and use the platform of the office to advance policies that put people first.

That balance is essential. On the floor, I will be fair, consistent, and focused on the process. Outside the chamber, I will be a strong, visible advocate for the people by making sure their priorities are heard and reflected in the work of government.

That’s how we respect the institution while still delivering for the people we serve.

If you had to point to one measurable outcome you would deliver in four years as lieutenant governor, what would it be?

If I had to point to one measurable outcome, it would be affordability. While we are unable to control what happens in Washington: a meaningful reduction in the cost of living for working families in New Mexico must be the priority. Specifically, I would commit to lowering the percentage of households that are cost-burdened, those spending more than 30% of their income on housing and basic needs, by at least 25% over four years.

That’s a real, measurable goal that reflects what people are feeling every day. To get there, we have to take a comprehensive, people-first approach: expanding affordable housing and down payment assistance, lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs, increasing wages, and providing targeted tax relief and GBI for working families. It also means investing in childcare, transportation, and workforce development so people don’t just get by but get ahead.

As lieutenant governor, I would use the platform to align policy, budget priorities, and partnerships around that goal by working with the legislature, the governor, and communities across the state to deliver results. Because at the end of the day, success isn’t measured by what we say, it’s measured by whether people can afford to live, work, and thrive in New Mexico.