Deb Haaland claimed a primary victory in New Mexico on Tuesday, June 3, clearing the first electoral hurdle in what figures to be a closely watched general election race.
Haaland — who served as U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Biden and before that represented New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District — has been one of the state’s most prominent political figures for nearly a decade. Her primary win sets up a fall contest, though the identity of her general election opponent and the specific office she’s seeking weren’t detailed in early reports.
Background
A member of the Laguna Pueblo, Haaland made history in 2018 as one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress. She left her House seat in 2021 when Biden nominated her to lead the Interior Department, a post she held until January 2025.
Her return to New Mexico electoral politics drew attention well before Tuesday’s vote. The primary result confirms she’s headed into the general election campaign.
ICT News reported the win Tuesday evening. Margin figures and full returns hadn’t been published at the time of that report.
Reported by ICT News (ictnews.org). Read the original report.
