The former congressman and secretary of the interior is one step closer to becoming the first Native American female governor in U.S. history.
Voters in six states head to polling places for key primaries
Voters in six states cast their votes in primaries and other key races across the country that could decide President Donald Trump’s second term.
Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland won the New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial primary on June 2, moving one step closer to becoming the first Native American female governor in U.S. history.
Immediately after the polls concluded, NBC News Decision Desk Headquarters predicted that Haaland would win the nomination to replace outgoing Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham over Sam Bregman, the district attorney in the state’s 2nd Judicial District.
Haaland made history as the first Native American cabinet member when Biden appointed her to lead the Interior Department, which manages federal lands. Before that, she was a member of parliament.
She is the second Native American woman to be a major political party’s candidate for governor. Paulette Jordan ran in Idaho as a Democrat in 2018, but lost to Republican Brad Little in the ruby red state.
By contrast, Haaland is running in a blue state and has a strong shot at becoming governor there. Both Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball believe the general election is “likely for a Democratic victory.”
Haaland is the second Biden Cabinet member to run for California governor, with former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra running for governor.
The former interior minister ran a liberal-leaning campaign against the moderate Bregman, including defending the Democratic Party in a profile in Vogue magazine.
“I know people are frustrated with the Democratic Party. I’m not saying the Democratic Party is perfect,” Haaland told the magazine. “But I still feel that our values will lead to a win for the most vulnerable people in this country, the people politicians should be thinking about first.”
Haaland told the Albuquerque Journal that she will make resistance to the Trump administration a key part of her campaign, calling for more funding for state attorneys general to sue the Trump administration.
“We will continue to sue the administration,” she said. “If it’s going to work, we should fight him in court every chance we get.”
Sen. Ben Ray Luján is expected to win renomination
Luján easily defeated Matt Dodson in New Mexico, becoming the Democratic candidate for re-election. The Associated Press and Decision Desk headquarters called the incumbent race immediately after voting closed.
According to the Associated Press and NBC News, Marker has received enough votes in the primary to be on the November ballot, so he will face Republican write-in candidate Larry Marker in November.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball both say Democrats are likely to hold the Senate seat.
In the remaining state House races, Democrat Melanie Ann Stansbury will face Republican Didi Okpaleke for the 1st District seat, while incumbent Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez will face Republican Martin Zamora in the 3rd District.
In the primary for the state’s only contested House seat, Gregory Cunningham defeated Jose Orozco to take the Republican ticket and face incumbent Democrat Gabriel Vazquez in the state’s 2nd District, according to the Associated Press and DDHQ.
