04.11.2026 10:13
A historic first took place in the US midterm elections. Democratic Party New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland defeated Republican rival Gregg Hull to become the first Native American woman elected governor in US history. Haaland, who previously served as Secretary of the Interior in the Joe Biden administration and made history as the first Native American to serve in the US Cabinet, added another first with this victory.
A historic development occurred in the US midterm elections. In New Mexico, former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, the Democratic Party candidate, won the gubernatorial race, defeating Republican rival Gregg Hull. With this result, 65-year-old Haaland was recorded as the first Native American woman elected to lead a state in US history.
SHE ACHIEVED A FIRST IN US HISTORY
The Associated Press (AP) announced that Deb Haaland won the New Mexico governorship in the elections held on November 3. Haaland's victory was declared when about 41 percent of the votes had been counted on election night. In the first unofficial results announced, the Democratic candidate's vote share was at 57 percent.
Defeating her Republican rival Gregg Hull, Haaland was thus elected to a position that no Native American woman had ever reached before in US history.
SHE SERVED AS A CABINET SECRETARY IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
A member of the Laguna Pueblo community, Haaland had previously achieved historic successes in American politics. Haaland, one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018, was appointed Secretary of the Interior in 2021 by then-US President Joe Biden.
With her appointment to this position, she had also gone down in history as the first Native American to serve in a federal cabinet in US history. Now, by winning the New Mexico governorship, Haaland has added a new historic achievement to her political career.
PLEDGE TO OPPOSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Throughout her election campaign, Haaland focused on the cost of living, healthcare, and problems in the child welfare system, and she also stated that she would oppose US President Donald Trump's policies.
The Democratic politician made pledges to increase access to healthcare, create a publicly supported health insurance option, and reorganize the state's child protection system.
Haaland will replace Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who could not run again because her term had ended.
HISTORIC RESULT IN NEW MEXICO
Located in the southwestern United States, New Mexico is among the states with a significant portion of the Native American population. Native Americans make up about 12 percent of the state's population.
Haaland's election as governor was also a historic turning point in terms of Native American representation in US politics. With her election victory, the Democratic politician wrote her name into the political history of both New Mexico and the United States.