Former interior secretary Deb Haaland won the Democratic nomination for governor in New Mexico on Tuesday, beating Albuquerque-area prosecutor Sam Bregman.
A former congresswoman who served in President Joe Biden‘s Cabinet, Haaland could be the first Native American woman governor and is favored to win her blue-leaning state in November.
One of the country’s poorest states, New Mexico has created ambitious programs financed by its fossil fuel resources, including a first-in-the-nation universal child care program for working families that the next governor would oversee when term-limited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) leaves office.
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What’s at stake
New Mexico exports more oil than any state besides Texas, and leaders used its vast oil and natural gas resources to finance a safety net program that helps pay for universal child care, health care, school lunches and free college.
As the war with Iran wages, New Mexico has reaped a windfall from rising oil prices, making it the rare Democratic-led state underwritten by fossil fuels.
It’ll be up to the next governor to help manage that boon. New Mexico has elected both Republicans and Democrats as state leaders over the last generation, but has trended toward Democrats in recent elections.
Potential history-making bid
A victory by Haaland could eventually notch another first into her resume: she’d be the first female Native American elected governor.
A member of the Laguna Puebla tribe, she was the first Native American to serve in a presidential Cabinet when she became secretary of the interior under Biden.
She was also one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress when she won an Albuquerque-area seat in 2018, a win that followed her rebuilding work as the state Democratic Party chair. Through her Native American roots on her mother’s side, she self-identifies as a 35th-generation New Mexican.
The Democratic primary
Haaland consistently led Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney and a former city councilman, in polling and has higher name recognition statewide.
Bregman’s campaign leaned into his law enforcement background and emphasized reducing violent crime and addressing the fentanyl crisis in what was widely considered a more moderate brand. He also pitched ways to reduce housing and health care costs.
Haaland focused on education and affordability and occupied a more progressive lane, though she also rolled out a public safety plan.
Biden-era leaders on the ballot
Haaland is one of two Biden Cabinet members competing in a governor’s primary race Tuesday. Xavier Becerra, a former health secretary, has been leading in California polls in the open primary race where candidates of all parties run on one ballot and the top two advance to the general election.
The Republican candidates
New Mexico Republicans held a three-way primary race for governor among former Rio Rancho mayor Gregg Hull, small-business owner Doug Turner and Duke Rodriguez, CEO of New Mexico’s largest cannabis company.
Hannah Knowles contributed to this report.
Full primary results from June 2
The races we’re watching:
California governor primary results and analysis
Los Angeles mayoral primary results and analysis
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