Democrat Deb Haaland has announced her candidacy for governor of New Mexico. Haaland, who previously served as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Joe Biden, has a political history that includes serving as the U.S. representative for New Mexico’s first congressional district from 2019 to 2021 and chairing the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017. She is also a registered member of the Laguna Pueblo.
Paul Gessing, president of New Mexico’s Rio Grande Foundation, expressed skepticism about Haaland's rise in politics, attributing it more to her ethnic background and support for left-wing policies than to significant achievements in her previous roles. "Even from an honest left-wing perspective, Haaland’s rise has little to do with achieving anything significant in her recent positions of power," he stated.
During her time in Congress, Haaland received an “F” rating from the National Taxpayers Union and supported initiatives like the “Green New Deal.” She opposed fracking on federal lands and was described by Gessing as "just another hard-left vote."
Haaland's tenure as Secretary of the Interior involved managing access and permits for oil, gas, coal, mining, timber, and ranching. The department oversees large areas of federally managed lands through agencies like the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which controls over 247 million acres across Western states including New Mexico.
Gessing criticized Haaland's approach to energy policies during her time at the Interior Department. He highlighted her decision to impose a buffer zone around Chaco Canyon National Historical Park in New Mexico as part of these policies. This move was unpopular among some Navajo tribal leaseholders who favored economic development through leasing their mineral rights.
Looking ahead to what a governorship under Haaland might entail for New Mexico, Gessing suggested it would continue current trends he views negatively: "New Mexico already suffers from nearly a century of misguided 'blue state' governance." He pointed out issues such as poverty despite being a leading oil producer and challenges in education and crime rates.
Gessing concluded that "Haaland would likely be even more aggressive than current Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham" in pursuing policies he believes have hindered economic growth in New Mexico.
