By Nicole Maxwell
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is expected to announce her run for governor in the coming weeks. In the interim, she appears to have begun the process for the run.
While she has not made an official announcement, she has begun to assemble a campaign team headed by Scott Forrester, who most recently served as U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury’s chief of staff. Stansbury has represented New Mexico’s 1sd Congressional District since 2021, after winning a special election that year to replace Haaland, who was tapped by Joe Biden to head the Department of the Interior that same year.
Rumors of Haaland’s run for governor have been swirling since the Nov. 5 election and now her team is confirming that a formal announcement is coming soon.
“Deb Haaland is… a proven leader; she’s created New Mexico jobs, brings people together and is getting ready to run to be New Mexico’s next governor,” a spokesperson for Deb Haaland said. “She and her team will be focused on listening and solutions that fit the needs of our communities.”
As previously reported in NM Political Report, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, announced Jan. 24 that, although he was contemplating a run, he decided against a gubernatorial campaign citing that “a strong voice in Washington” is needed “now more than ever.”
Other rumored contenders include Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, also a Democrat, who told NM Political Report he was currently more focused on his current job.
Whereas, Republican Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull said he has contemplated a run for governor but has not made any official announcements in that respect.
Deb Haaland has proven her capable leadership qualities as the Interior Secretary and would do so much for New Mexico’s need to become a more progressive state. Thank you, Deb Haaland, for considering running for our state’s next governor.
If you think MLG was bad for New Mexico, go ahead and elect Haaland another tax and spend Dem.
Good report. Thanks. Please do note that the word “Whereas” was used incorrectly.
In my opinion she is not qualified to be Governor of our state. Just what jobs did she create? I don’t know of any nor does my husband. While I would welcome an indigenous person becoming Governor, that individual needs to be highly pqualified and I have not seen evidence of such qualifications. It is my belief that there are likely any number of indigenous people in New Mexico who possess the qualifications to lead New Mexico in an intelligent and thoughtful manner.
She has never asked for NM residents’ opinion. Why should we expect anything different now?
I am very grateful to Deb Haaland for running for governor!!! I think the world of her and will support her candidacy wholeheartedly!
Wonderful idea!
I look forward to voting for Deb Haaland for Governor in 2026. She is exceptionally well qualified to lead New Mexico in sustaining progress throughout the state, especially in essential environmental and economic policies.
As Interior Secretary under President Biden, Haaland was part of the cognitive coverup of Biden. She knew his mental state was declining and failed to stand up and report this to the nation. Therefore, she should not be elected governor of NM.