 Previously, the New Mexico State Constitution did not allow for the nomination of a replacement for lieutenant governor after the governor's office was succeeded; this is the reason the Governor number is higher than the lieutenant governor.Section 16 of Article VI of the New Mexico State Constitution (added on November 4, 2008) gives the governor the power to nominate a replacement for lieutenant governor upon confirmation of the nominee by a majority of the New Mexico State Senate.Since admission into the Union, New Mexico has had 27 lieutenant governors, two of whom have served non-consecutive terms.