Haaland wins New Mexico governorship

Deb Haaland won the New Mexico gubernatorial race on Tuesday night, becoming the first Indigenous woman to serve as a governor in the United States. Associated Press called the race for Haaland at 10:40 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Democrat defeated Republican candidate Gregory D. Hull. Hull previously served as the mayor of Rio Rancho. The victory allows the Democratic Party to retain control of the governor's office in New Mexico, a state it has governed since Michelle Lujan Grisham took power in 2019.

Lujan Grisham could not seek a third term due to state term limits. Haaland succeeds her as the head of the state government. This result marks a shift in leadership while maintaining the party's grip on the executive branch in the state.

Haaland belongs to the Laguna Pueblo community in New Mexico. Her election follows a career in national politics. She represented New Mexico's first congressional district in the US House of Representatives. She later served as the US Secretary of the Interior during the administration of former President Joe Biden.

The Senate confirmed Haaland as Interior Secretary in March 2021. She assumed that role on March 16, 2021. In that capacity, she managed federal natural resources and lands. The department also handles federal responsibilities toward Indigenous communities.

Born Debra Anne Haaland in Winslow, Arizona, on December 2, 1960, she grew up in a military family. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of New Mexico in 1994. She obtained her law degree from the same institution in 2006.

Before entering Congress, Haaland worked as a tribal administrator for San Felipe Pueblo. She also presided over the board of the Laguna Development Corporation. She won a seat in the US House in 2018, becoming one of the first two Indigenous women elected to that body.