As Predicted, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Secures Democratic Nomination for New Mexico Governor

Haaland, who is seeking to become the first Native American woman to serve as a governor, secured her party’s nomination in Tuesday’s primary election.

Democrat Deb Haaland would be the first female Native American governor if she is elected this fall.Rob Schumacher / USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for New Mexico governor, advancing to the general election as she seeks to make history as the first Native American woman elected to lead a U.S. state.

Haaland enters the November contest as the leading candidate to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Democrats have maintained a strong hold on statewide offices in New Mexico, with Republicans currently lacking representation in any statewide elected position.

The former cabinet secretary defeated Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the Democratic primary. Bregman is also known as the father of Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman.

In the general election, Haaland will face the Republican nominee. The GOP primary field includes Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, businessman and former gubernatorial candidate Doug Turner, and former state Human Services Secretary Duke Rodriguez.

Throughout her campaign, Haaland has highlighted the historic significance of her candidacy. She has frequently referenced her Native American heritage and incorporated the Diné language into several campaign advertisements, underscoring her connection to Indigenous communities across the state.

Haaland served as Interior Secretary during former President Joe Biden’s entire four-year administration. Before joining the Cabinet, she made history as one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, representing the Albuquerque area for a single term. She also previously led the New Mexico Democratic Party as its chair.

Democratic leaders quickly praised her primary victory. Democratic Governors Association Chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear described Haaland as a dedicated advocate for New Mexico, citing her role in attracting investment, supporting job creation, strengthening the economy, and protecting natural resources.

“Deb is a fierce champion for New Mexico, who has secured millions of dollars in investment and thousands of good-paying jobs, while strengthening the state’s economy, and preserving natural resources for generations to come,” Beshear said. “She knows the pain New Mexicans are feeling right now, which is why she will never stop fighting to bring down costs and create jobs, strengthen schools, expand affordable health care, and create safer communities.”

Ahead of the primary results, Haaland indicated that her general election campaign would focus heavily on criticizing President Donald Trump’s policies and their impact on New Mexico residents.

“We’re in a horrible era right now with our federal government, and people see that the policies that Donald Trump is inflicting on New Mexicans are having a very negative effect all over the state,” Haaland said.

She also emphasized economic and social issues affecting families across the state.

“Everybody deserves to have health care, deserves to eat healthy food,” she said. “They need somebody who understands what it’s like, and they want somebody who knows how to find solutions to these issues.”

New Mexico ranks among the states with the highest participation rates in both Medicaid and federal food assistance programs. Those programs were significantly reduced under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which Trump signed into law last year.

At the same time, Haaland has continued to speak positively about Biden, despite lingering criticism surrounding his decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race.

In recent remarks, she described Biden as “absolutely an asset” to her campaign and referred to him as a “true partner” to both New Mexico and Indigenous communities nationwide. She has also regularly highlighted achievements from her tenure as Interior Secretary, particularly in conservation efforts and the expansion of wind and solar energy projects throughout the American Southwest. However, her campaign advertising has generally avoided mentioning Biden directly.