New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Lt. Gov. Diane Denish met Thursday to discuss their upcoming transition of power.

Richardson will remain governor until the U.S. Senate confirms his nomination as commerce secretary in the Obama administration.

He estimates that won't happen until February so he could remain governor through the first half of the New Mexico legislature's upcoming 60-day session.

Denish will have full access during that session to deliberations on policies and budgets.

She will become New Mexico's first female governor.