John Burroughs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry and has a background in agriculture, having taught the subject in New Mexico. He transitioned into the food processing and oil industries, founding a successful business with multiple branches. Burroughs also spent time in the public sector, initially serving in the New Mexico legislature before being elected governor, where he emphasized financial responsibility and established the New Mexico Department of Development. Despite not being re-elected, he remained involved in state finance through service on the New Mexico Finance Board.

John Burroughs presents a unique blend of fiscal conservatism and economic innovation, underscored by his background in agriculture and business. His creation of the New Mexico Department of Development, merging tourism, economic growth, and state promotion, reveals a strategic approach to economic diversification. Burroughs's insistence on financial responsibility, particularly his efforts to recover state funds, showcases an ideologically rigid stance on fiscal discipline. His repeated unsuccessful bids for re-election and the Democratic nomination, despite a strong political presence, hint at an unpredictable political calculus that defies conventional patterns.