PRIMARY ELECTION 2026
Haaland wins Democratic nomination, will face GOP winner Hull in November
Former US Interior secretary rebuffs Sam Bregman in primary, seeking to become first Native American woman elected governor
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Deb Haaland鈥檚 bid to make history is surging ahead to November.
The former U.S. Interior secretary has won the Democratic nomination in New Mexico鈥檚 open race for governor, rebuffing a primary election challenge from Sam Bregman.
She will face GOP nominee Gregg Hull, the former three-term mayor of Rio Rancho, in November's general election.
Longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff and The Associated Press projected Haaland as the winner of the Democrat primary at 7:34 p.m. 鈥� just over half an hour after polls closed.
鈥淚 understand the struggles New Mexicans are facing and I will fight every day for lower costs, a quality public education, safer communities, and increased access to healthcare,鈥� Haaland said before polls closed Tuesday.
Haaland announced her campaign for governor in February 2025, just weeks after stepping down as former President Joe Biden鈥檚 Interior secretary.
The former congresswoman, who is an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo, would become the first Native American woman elected governor in the United States if she wins the general election in November.
Haaland has easily surpassed all rivals in this year鈥檚 race for governor when it comes to fundraising, having raised roughly $12.8 million 鈥� and spent more than $10.8 million 鈥� since launching her campaign.
Thousands of donors from around the country donated to her campaign, and Haaland also landed endorsements from top-ranking Democratic state lawmakers.
However, Haaland also faced criticism for declining invitations from several network TV stations to debate Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney who sought to portray himself as a more moderate option to Democratic voters worried about crime-related issues.
She did participate in several candidate forums and televised interviews.
Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.
