New Mexicans could test Biden's drilling pledge

The big picture: Udall is the nephew of the late Rep. Mo Udall, a former chair of the House Interior Committee, and son of former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall. Haaland is a Native American whose candidacy is backed by tribal leaders, as Axios' Alexi McCammond reported last week.

• While Haaland has been a leading candidate, there are increasing concerns from House leaders about reducing the Democrats' already-narrow margin in the chamber by tapping a member for the Cabinet.
• New Mexico’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, who already turned down the Interior job, said in September she would ask Biden for a waiver from any ban on new permits.

By the numbers: New Mexico accounts for 57% of federal onshore oil production and 31% of onshore natural gas production, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

• Roughly $3 billion, or close to 40% of the state’s budget, comes from oil and gas revenue.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to the late Rep. Mo Udall as a senator.