Scoop: Haaland eyes N.M. governor's race
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Interior Secretary Deb Haaland departs the stage at the Democratic National Convention in August in Chicago. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is quietly preparing to run for governor in New Mexico, setting up a potential Democratic showdown with Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in 2026, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Haaland, a former New Mexico congresswoman, would attract national attention — and donors — for her bid to keep the governorship under Democratic control.
- Heinrich, who just won a third term to the Senate, would come to the race with his own unique advantages.
- Win or lose in the primary, he will remain a sitting senator in New Mexico.
- If victorious, he might be able to appoint his replacement in the Senate, giving him even more political capital in his party.
What they are saying: "They're both very popular. Deb Haaland is well-liked in New Mexico, well-liked in so many spheres," Sen. Ben Ray Luján told Axios. "He outperformed Vice President Harris in New Mexico."
- "Martin is going to come at this with resources, but Deb has a strong base with people back home," he said. "When Deb runs, Deb wins, she finds a way to win."
- "Sen. Heinrich is honored to have been reelected by the people of New Mexico to continue fighting for them in the U.S. Senate," said a spokesperson for Heinrich.
- "His focus remains squarely on delivering results for New Mexico families— creating good-paying jobs, lowering the cost of living, protecting our public lands, and defending fundamental rights and freedoms."
- A representative for Haaland declined to comment.
Between the lines: Haaland can't make any official moves to run as a sitting member of President Biden's Cabinet.
- But once Biden's term ends at noon on Jan. 20, her allies are preparing for her to formalize her candidacy.
- With a busy Senate schedule tying down Heinrich in D.C., Haaland may be able to get a crucial jump on him at the start of 2025.
The bottom line: Heinrich will be the ranking member on the Senate Energy Committee, forcing him to make a difficult decision about whether to leave behind a powerful Senate perch, as Semafor reported last week.
- New Mexico, which has only three House members, has a long history of powerful, and long-serving, senators like Sens. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).
- "I've always been taught the seniority matters, and especially in the United States Senate — and New Mexico's leadership exemplified that," Luján said.
