J.R. Damron

J.R. Damron was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Mexico in 2006.

Governor Race Gone Awry

Damron announced his candidacy for governor in October 2005. In April 2006, Damron's wife, Barbara, was reportedly forced off the board of directors for Santa Fe’s St. Vincent Hospital, under threat that Governor Bill Richardson would veto funds for the hospital, because her husband was running for governor against Richardson.

Having won the primary election fairly, on June 17, 2006, he was pushed out of that position by the chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party, Allen Weh.

Post-Gubernatorial Race Life

In 2013, Damron was elected chair of the New Mexico Health Exchange board of directors.