Deb Haaland Seeks Historic New Mexico Governorship

Deb Haaland, the Laguna Pueblo Democrat and former interior secretary, is nearing Election Day in a bid to become the first Native American woman governor in the United States and the first Pueblo citizen to govern New Mexico. Her campaign emphasizes expanding the social safety net and rural health care while protecting natural resources and sacred lands, building on her work addressing missing and murdered Indigenous people and advocating for culturally significant sites. Haaland has drawn prominent Democratic support and leads Republican opponent Gregg Hull in polling, but her acceptance of contributions linked to fossil fuels and a controversial AI data center has prompted questions about her environmental commitments. Her race is part of a broader rise in Indigenous women seeking elected office, including campaigns for U.S. Senate seats around the country.