Deb Haaland Wins New Mexico Governor's Race
Democrat Deb Haaland defeated Republican Greggory D. Hull to become the first female Native American governor of any U.S. state.
Deb Haaland won the election for governor of New Mexico on Tuesday, defeating Republican Greggory D. Hull. Unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State showed Haaland with 57 percent of the vote, or 175,561 votes, compared to 43 percent, or 134,481 votes, for Hull.
A member of the Laguna Pueblo and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Haaland will be the first female Native American governor of any U.S. state. She replaces term-limited Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Her victory coincides with a national trend of increased Indigenous political participation, with a record 358 Indigenous candidates running for office this cycle.
During the campaign, Haaland advocated for environmental regulations on oil and gas drilling and early childhood education. Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho, focused his campaign on criticizing the state's education outcomes despite increased spending. Following the results, Haaland's running mate, Stephanie Garcia Richard, stated that New Mexico chose its future.
