Deb Haaland
Former US Secretary of the Interior and Democratic candidate for New Mexico governor.
Deb Haaland, the former US Interior Secretary, won New Mexico's Democratic gubernatorial primary on 2 June 2026, and Sabato's Crystal Ball moved the race to Safe Democratic on 23 July, citing her cash lead.
Last refreshed: 26 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Does a seven-to-one cash lead make Deb Haaland the safe bet for New Mexico governor?
Timeline for Deb Haaland
Sabato moves three races for governor
US Midterms 2026Background
Deb Haaland served as US Secretary of the Interior from 2021 to 2025, the first Native American to hold a cabinet post, after representing New Mexico's 1st congressional district in the US House from 2019 to 2021. She is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo.
Haaland won the New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial primary on 2 June 2026, defeating Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. Sabato's Crystal Ball moved the general-election race to SAFE Democratic on 23 July, citing a cash advantage over her Republican opponent of roughly seven to one.
If elected, Haaland would become the first Native American woman to serve as a US state governor, extending a run of firsts that began with her cabinet appointment.