Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland wins Democratic nomination in New Mexico governor’s race

BREAKING NEWSJun. 3, 2026, 1:16 AM UTC2026 Election2026 ElectionFormer Interior Secretary Deb Haaland wins Democratic nomination in New Mexico governor’s raceNBC News projects that Haaland, who is vying to become the first female Native American governor, secured her party’s nomination. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Democrat Deb Haaland would be the first female Native American governor if elected this fall.Rob Schumacher / USA Today Network via Imagn ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Adam EdelmanFormer Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has won the Democratic primary in New Mexico’s race for governor, NBC News projects.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Haaland enters the general election to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as the front-runner in a state where no Republicans hold statewide office. If elected this fall, she would become the first-ever Native American woman to serve as governor. Haaland defeated Sam Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney and the father of Chicago Cubs star third baseman Alex Bregman for the Democratic nomination. In November, she will face off against the winner of a Republican primary that includes Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, Doug Turner, a businessman and a former gubernatorial candidate, and Duke Rodriguez, a former secretary of the state’s human services department.Haaland has emphasized the potentially history-making aspect of her campaign, highlighting her ancestral history and running several ads in the Diné language.She served as former President Joe Biden’s interior secretary for the entirety of his four years in office. Previously, she was the first Native American woman elected to Congress, where she served one term representing the Albuquerque area. She also chaired the state Democratic Party. In an interview with NBC News prior to her victory Tuesday, Haaland signaled she would lean into a general el...