Overview:
Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo, made history as the first Native American woman elected governor of New Mexico, building on a career dedicated to Indigenous rights, tribal sovereignty, environmental protection, and greater Native American representation in government.
Native Vote 2026
ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) added another “first” to her résumé on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when she became the first Native American woman elected governor of a U.S. state.
A Democrat, Haaland defeated her Republican opponent, Greg Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, who served from 2014 until April 2026.
A 35th-generation New Mexican, Haaland will be sworn in as the 33rd governor of New Mexico on January 1, 2027, succeeding term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Haaland’s Firsts
In 2015, Haaland became the first Native American woman to lead a state political party when she was elected chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party.
In November 2018, she and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) became the first two Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress.
In 2019, Haaland became the first woman to preside over the House of Representatives during a debate on voting rights.
Perhaps her most significant milestone came in 2021, when she became the first Native American to serve as a U.S. Cabinet secretary after President Joe Biden appointed her secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
These historic milestones helped break barriers for Native Americans and women in American politics. Her achievements also helped increase Native representation at both the state and federal levels.
Biography
Born on December 2, 1960, in Winslow, Arizona, Haaland grew up in a military family and moved frequently during her childhood. Her mother served in the U.S. Navy, and her father was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
After graduating from high school in New Mexico, Haaland attended the University of New Mexico, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English. She later earned a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Before entering politics, Haaland held several positions, including working as a small-business owner and advocating for Native American communities.
As a congresswoman, she focused much of her attention on Native American rights, supporting veterans and military families, protecting public lands, and improving opportunities for working families.
She served as vice chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources and chaired its Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. Haaland helped advance important legislation, including the Not Invisible Act of 2020, which addressed violence against Indigenous people. She also supported the Great American Outdoors Act, which provided funding for national parks and conservation projects. In addition, she advocated for tribal sovereignty, environmental protection, and greater federal recognition of issues affecting Native American communities.
Along with advancing Native American causes, Haaland worked to address issues affecting New Mexico residents and military families. Her accomplishments in Congress included introducing legislation to improve military housing conditions, provide maternity uniforms for pregnant servicewomen, and prevent children from experiencing embarrassment or humiliation because their families could not afford school lunches. She also advocated for affordable child care, veterans’ health care, and investments in New Mexico’s military installations and national laboratories.
Secretary of the Interior
As the 54th U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Haaland took important steps to bring attention to the painful history of Native American boarding schools and their lasting impact on Indigenous communities.
In 2021, she established the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to investigate the federal government’s role in operating and supporting these schools. The initiative examined how Native children were forcibly separated from their families, languages, cultures, and communities in an effort to erase their identities. It also brought national attention to the thousands of Indigenous children who attended these schools, including those who never made it home.
Haaland’s work on the issue helped prompt President Joe Biden to issue a formal apology to Native Americans in October 2024 for the federal government’s role in the boarding school system. She also worked to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, defend tribal sovereignty, strengthen relationships between tribal nations and federal agencies, and protect Native American cultural and sacred sites.
Haaland also made protecting Indigenous lands and the environment an important part of her leadership. One of her significant accomplishments was helping protect approximately 336,000 acres surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico from future federal oil and gas leasing. This area holds deep cultural, spiritual, and historical significance for Pueblo and other Indigenous communities.
She also established the first Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, creating more opportunities for tribal leaders to share their concerns and have a voice in federal decisions affecting their communities. Additionally, she supported investments in tribal infrastructure, clean water, renewable energy, and economic development while advancing conservation efforts on public lands.
Through her work, Haaland helped bring greater recognition to Native American history, culture, and rights. Her leadership emphasized the importance of listening to Indigenous peoples, respecting tribal nations, and recognizing that Native American history is an essential part of American history.
While Haaland added another first to her resume, her election as governor of New Mexico represents the growing presence of Native American leadership in modern day American politics.
