Democrat Deb Haaland has won New Mexico’s gubernatorial election, making history as the first Native American woman elected governor of a US state.
Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, previously represented New Mexico in Congress and served as US Interior Secretary under former President Joe Biden.
The Associated Press called the race for Haaland with an estimated 41 per cent of the vote counted. Unofficial figures from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office showed her leading Republican candidate Gregg Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho, with 57 per cent of the vote as of 8:49 p.m.
Haaland watched the election results alongside supporters, fellow candidates and state Democratic Party officials at the Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque after polling stations closed at 7 p.m.
She ran alongside New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, while Hull’s running mate was Republican State Senator David Gallegos.
Haaland secured the Democratic nomination in June after defeating Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the party’s primary. She also significantly outraised Hull during the general election campaign. Her campaign finance filings frequently ran into thousands of pages because of the large number of donors, at times causing the Secretary of State’s website to crash.
The general election campaign was largely cordial, although Hull criticised Haaland for withdrawing from a televised debate.
Haaland explained that the date proposed by broadcaster KOB-TV conflicted with a prior commitment to meet farmers in southern New Mexico.
Her campaign focused on reducing the cost of living, introducing a public health insurance option and reforming the state’s child welfare agency.
In September, she also pledged to sign an executive order upon taking office to pause new large-scale data centre projects across New Mexico until lawmakers passed legislation regulating the industry.
Haaland will succeed Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was first elected in 2018 and is barred from seeking another term because of term limits.
Interestingly, Haaland previously succeeded Lujan Grisham as the representative for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, becoming one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. She later made history again as the first Native American to serve in a US presidential Cabinet.
Taking the stage to chants of her name, Haaland thanked Hull for running what she described as a “respectful” campaign.
She said projected Democratic victories in New Mexico and other parts of the country demonstrated that voters were growing tired of the Trump administration’s policies.
Drawing on her experience serving in Congress during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, Haaland promised to oppose cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as governor.
“I’ve stood up to Donald Trump before and I’m ready to do it again,” she said.
Haaland also reflected on the historical and personal significance of celebrating her victory on Laguna Pueblo land along Route 66.
She recalled carrying water from a community spigot and helping irrigate her grandfather’s cornfield.
“And just off this road, my grandmother was taken away to boarding school … yet we are still here,” she said.
As Interior Secretary, Haaland oversaw the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, which sought to investigate and address the lasting harm caused by boarding schools to Indigenous families and communities.
During her victory speech, Haaland also spoke about her experiences as a single working mother and how they shaped her understanding of the financial challenges facing ordinary New Mexicans.
She reflected on her journey, including working towards sobriety, raising a child in poverty and registering voters along dirt roads and through dust storms before eventually entering Congress.
“Right now, New Mexicans are working hard, doing everything they’re supposed to, and yet we still struggle to get ahead,” she said.
“I believe that no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or what challenges you’ve faced, every New Mexican deserves the chance to thrive.”
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