Deb Haaland

A Community Leader 

A 35th generation New Mexican who grew up in a military family, former Secretary Deb Haaland attended 13 public schools before graduating from Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a single mother who, like many parents, lived paycheck-to-paycheck and volunteered at her child’s pre-school to afford education, Haaland put herself through school earning a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Mexico and later a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.  

Haaland ran her own small business producing and canning her Pueblo Salsa and served as a tribal administrator at San Felipe Pueblo. In 2010, Haaland was the first woman elected to chair the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors where she oversaw business operations for the Tribe’s economic enterprises. She was instrumental in advocating for the Laguna Development Corporation to create policies and commitments to environmentally friendly business practices.

A Public Servant

In 2018, she made history when she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives serving New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, becoming one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. 

While in Congress, Haaland served on the House Committee on Natural Resources, where she was an advocate for environmental justice. Haaland is a staunch advocate for abortion access. She consistently voted to protect reproductive freedom and has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the devastating reproductive health challenges faced by Native American women throughout the United States. 

In 2021, Haaland was confirmed as secretary of the Interior Department, making her the first Native American to hold a cabinet secretary position in United States history. As interior secretary, Haaland worked to strengthen protections for public land and endangered habitats. She led a $72 million investment effort in the Office of Indian Affairs’ Tribal Electrification Program aimed to help develop electricity infrastructure and connect unelectrified Tribal homes to clean energy sources.

Safeguard New Mexico’s Reproductive Freedoms

Haaland is running to be New Mexico’s next governor in order to protect the state’s reproductive freedoms, make it easier to open and run a small business, strengthen public safety, promote a clean energy economy, and advocate for all New Mexicans.Haaland’s experience will ensure that she’s ready to hit the ground running on day one and will stand up against Republican extremists. New Mexicans can count on her to do everything in her power to protect their basic rights and EMILYs List is proud to support her in this election for governor.