Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo member and former U.S. interior secretary, won New Mexico’s governor’s race and will become the first Native American woman elected governor of any U.S. state.
What happened
NBC News projected Democrat Deb Haaland the winner of New Mexico’s open governor’s race late Tuesday into Wednesday, according to its Election Night coverage and a post from the @NBCNews account. The Associated Press also called the race for Haaland, Source New Mexico reported.
Haaland defeated Republican Gregg Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho. NBC News results showed Haaland at about 57.2% and Hull at about 42.8% with roughly 98% of expected votes in. Source New Mexico earlier reported similar unofficial margins after the Associated Press call.
- Haaland succeeds term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
- She becomes New Mexico’s 33rd governor when she takes office in January.
- Hull conceded around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to KKOB News.
Why it matters
Native American means a citizen of a federally recognized tribal nation. Haaland is an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo in west-central New Mexico. About 12% of New Mexico’s residents identify as Native American, Anadolu Agency and other outlets note.
Haaland was one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018. In 2021 she became the first Native American to serve as a U.S. Cabinet secretary when President Joe Biden named her interior secretary.
What each side said
On X early Wednesday, Haaland posted: “Thank you, New Mexico! It is the honor of my lifetime to be elected your 33rd Governor.” She wrote that voters chose “a future where New Mexico comes first” and added, “Whether you voted for me or not, I will always be your Governor, too.”
@TheDemocrats posted a win notice congratulating “Governor-elect Haaland” for defeating Hull and “keeping this seat blue.”
According to Source New Mexico, Haaland thanked Hull for a “respectful” campaign in her victory remarks and said she had “stood up to Donald Trump before and I’m ready to do it again,” framing Democratic wins as a response to Trump administration policies. She campaigned on affordability, a public option for health coverage, child-welfare reform, and a pause on new large data centers until the Legislature sets rules.
Hull, according to KKOB, said he was proud of a clean campaign that kept his integrity intact. He said he would keep pressing state government on education, the Children, Youth and Families Department, health care, infrastructure, and jobs that keep young New Mexicans in the state. KKOB reported he had called Haaland to congratulate her.
What comes next
Haaland is set to take office in January 2027. The race keeps the New Mexico governorship in Democratic hands after Lujan Grisham’s two terms. Official certification of the vote still follows New Mexico’s normal post-election process.
Sources: Source New Mexico; NBC News New Mexico results; Anadolu Agency; KKOB News; @NBCNews on X; @DebHaalandNM on X; @TheDemocrats on X
