Deb Haaland

Debra Anne Haaland (born December 2, 1960) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district since 2019. The district includes most of Albuquerque, along with most of its suburbs. Haaland is a former chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Along with Sharice Davids, she is one of the first two Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress. Haaland is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo and a 35th-generation New Mexican. Haaland is a political progressive who supports the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.[1][2]

Deb Haaland
United States Secretary of the Interior
Nominee
Assuming office
TBD
PresidentJoe Biden
DeputyElizabeth Klein (nominee)
SucceedingDavid Bernhardt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Mexico's 1st district
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byMichelle Lujan Grisham
Succeeded byTBD
Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party
In office
April 25, 2015 – April 29, 2017
Preceded bySam Bregman
Succeeded byRichard Ellenberg
Personal details
Born
Debra Anne Haaland

(1960-12-02) December 2, 1960
Winslow, Arizona, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
ResidenceAlbuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
EducationUniversity of New Mexico (BA, JD)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
WebsiteHouse website

On December 17, 2020, then incoming President Joe Biden announced that he would nominate Haaland to serve as United States Secretary of the Interior. If confirmed, she would become the first Native American to run the Department of the Interior, and the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.

Early life and education

Haaland was born in Winslow, Arizona.[3][4] She is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo.[5] The Pueblo people have lived on the land that is now the state of New Mexico since the 1200s and Haaland identifies herself as a 35th-generation New Mexican.[6][7] Her mother, Mary Toya,[8] a Native American woman, served in the United States Navy.[9] Her father, Major J. D. "Dutch" Haaland, a Norwegian American, was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and recipient of the Silver Star for his actions in Vietnam; he was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in 2005.[8] As a child in a military family, Haaland moved frequently.[10] She attended 13 public schools across the United States before the family settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be close to family who also belong to the Laguna Pueblo.[11] Haaland graduated from Highland High School in Albuquerque.[10][11] She has three sisters and a brother.[8]

After graduating from Highland High School, Haaland worked at a local bakery.[11] In 1988, she enrolled at the University of New Mexico, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English in 1994.[12][13] Four days after graduating, she gave birth to her daughter, Somáh.[10] As a single mother, Haaland started a salsa company to support herself and her daughter.[14][15] At times during this period, she did not earn enough money to afford housing and had to rely on friends for shelter.[10] She also relied on food stamps at times.[14] She earned her Juris Doctor in Indian law from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2006, but is not a member of the New Mexico State Bar.[12][13][16] Haaland became the first chairwoman elected to the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors, a Laguna-owned business created to strengthen the Laguna Community and its economy.[11][17] As chairwoman, she oversaw business operations for the second largest tribal gaming enterprise in New Mexico[18] and successfully advocated for the corporation to create policies and commitments to earth-friendly business practices.[18] She served as the tribal administrator for the San Felipe Pueblo from January 2013 to November 2015.[9][12][13]

Earlier political career

In 2012, Haaland served as the state's vote director for Native Americans in Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign.[19] She served as the chair of Democratic Party of New Mexico Native American Caucus from 2012 to 2013.[6] She ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2014.[9] Her ticket, headed by then-Attorney General of New Mexico Gary King, the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico, lost to the Republican ticket of Governor Susana Martinez and Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez.[20]

Haaland was elected to a two-year term as the chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in April 2015.[21][22] During her tenure, New Mexico Democrats regained control of the New Mexico House of Representatives and the office of the New Mexico Secretary of State.[19][23] Haaland has been credited with rebuilding the state party after large defeats for Democrats in New Mexico in 2014.[24] She raised enough money during her two-year term as chair to pay off seven years' worth of debt incurred under previous chairs.[23]

U.S. House of Representatives
Main article: List of Native Americans in the United States Congress

2018
See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico § District 1
Haaland speaks at "Stop Kavanaugh Rally" at the U.S. Capitol in 2018

After the expiration of her term as state party chair, Haaland announced her intention to run for the United States House of Representatives in New Mexico's 1st congressional district in the 2018 elections, to succeed Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was running for governor.[19] Haaland defeated Damon Martinez and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez to win the Democratic Party nomination in June 2018,[25] receiving 40.5% of the vote and winning every county in the district.[26][27]

In the November 6 general election, Haaland defeated former New Mexico State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones,[28] receiving 59.1% of the vote and winning three of the district's five counties.[29][30] Her victory was part of a sweep of New Mexico that saw Democrats win every statewide and federal office on the ballot that year, along with expanding their majority in the New Mexico House of Representatives.[31][32]

2020
See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico § District 1

In the November 3 general election, Haaland defeated retired police detective Michelle Garcia Holmes, who ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[33] Haaland subsequently received 58.2% of the vote.

Tenure
Congresswoman Debra Haaland, “Crushed Turquoise”, Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico’s 1st District, captured in the historic wet-plate collodion process of pure silver on glass for “Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective” by Shane Balkowitsch, North Dakota Historical Society, Bismarck, ND

Along with fellow Democrat Sharice Davids of Kansas, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Haaland is one of the first two Native American women elected to the United States Congress.[34][35][36] During the swearing-in ceremony in January 2019, Haaland wore traditional Pueblo dress, necklace and moccasins.[37]

On March 7, 2019, during a debate on voting rights and campaign finance, Haaland became the first Native American woman to preside over the U.S. House of Representatives.[38][39]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Secretary of the Interior nomination
Main article: List of Native American politicians

On December 17, 2020, incoming President Joe Biden announced that he would nominate Haaland as Secretary of the Interior.[45] If confirmed, she would be the first Native American to head the department as well as be the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.[lower-alpha 1][46][47][48]

Before Biden nominated Haaland, many senior Democrats had voiced their support for her as Secretary of the Interior, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senator Elizabeth Warren.[49][50][51]

Electoral history
Democratic primary results[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Haaland 25,366 40.57
Democratic Damon Martinez 16,154 25.84
Democratic Antoinette Sedillo Lopez 12,885 20.61
Democratic Paul Moya 3,683 5.89
Democratic Pat Davis (withdrawn) 2,380 3.81
Democratic Damian Lara 2,059 3.29
Total votes 62,527 100.00
New Mexico's 1st congressional district, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Deb Haaland 147,336 59.1
Republican Janice Arnold-Jones 90,507 36.3
Libertarian Lloyd Princeton 11,319 4.5
Total votes 249,162 100.0
Democratic hold
New Mexico's 1st congressional district, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Deb Haaland (incumbent) 186,953 58.2
Republican Michelle Garcia Holmes 134,337 41.8
Total votes 321,290 100.0
Democratic hold

Personal life

Haaland has a daughter, Somáh, whom she raised on her own.[53][19] Haaland's hobbies include marathon running and gourmet cooking.[12] She is a Catholic.[54]

See also

Notes
  1. Charles Curtis, who served as Vice President between 1929 and 1933, was the first ever Native American to serve in a United States Cabinet, but never served as a Cabinet secretary.[46]

References
  1. Candidate, The. "Q&A: 1st Congressional District Candidate Debra Haaland". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  2. "AOC praises Biden's 'historic appointment' of first Native American to lead Interior Department". The Independent. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  3. Washington, Inside Elections 810 7th Street NE; Developers, DC 20002 Phone:546-2822 Email · Subscriptions API for. "Candidate Conversation - Deb Haaland (D)". insideelections.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  4. Peters, Joey (April 26, 2015). "Haaland elected new state Democratic Party Chair". Nmpoliticalreport.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  5. "This Single Mother Could Be the First Native American in Congress". Time. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  6. Dunlap, Susan (May 27, 2020). "NY Times highlights Congresswoman Deb Haaland". NM Political Report. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  7. Jenkins, Cameron (November 11, 2020). "Deb Haaland says 'of course' she would serve as Interior secretary under Biden". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  8. "Obituaries: Haaland". Albuquerque Journal. March 4, 2005. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  9. "Debra Haaland Could Make History as Lt. Gov. of NM – IndianCountryToday.com". Newsmaven.io. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  10. McGrady, Clyde (September 16, 2019). "Haaland recalls struggles as single mom, Thanksgiving and being homeless". Roll Call. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  11. Boetel, Ryan (October 10, 2020). "'Proud progressive,' Haaland seeks 2nd term". Albuquerque Journal. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  12. "Deb Haaland's Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
  13. "Debra Haaland". LinkedIn. 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
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  15. Dlouhy, Jennifer A.; Epstein, Jennifer (December 17, 2020). "Biden Picks Deb Haaland to Be First Native American Secretary of Interior". Bloomberg News. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  16. Oxford, Andrew (May 2, 2017). "Haaland, former Dem Party state chairwoman, running for Congress". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  17. "LDC Mission Statement". Laguna Development Corporation. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  18. Oestreich, Corrine (April 27, 2019). "Interview with Deb Haaland – 2019 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow". powwows.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
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  21. Terrell, Steve (April 25, 2015). "State Democrats elect first American Indian to lead party". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  22. "Democrats elect Haaland state party chairwoman". Albuquerque Journal. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  23. Stuart, Tessa (August 18, 2018). "Meet Deb Haaland, Likely to Be the First Native Woman Elected to Congress". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
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  26. "New Mexico Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.nm.us. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  27. "New Mexico Primary Election Results: First House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
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  33. Turner, Scott (October 25, 2019). "Garcia Holmes enters U.S. House race". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  34. Democrats in Kansas, New Mexico Become First Native American Women Elected to Congress Archived January 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, Time Magazine, November 7, 2018. Katie Reilly. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  35. The U.S. Could Be Getting Its First Native American Congresswoman in November Archived August 13, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Fortune, McKenna Moore, June 7, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  36. Romero, Simon (June 6, 2018). "New Mexico Could Elect First Native American Woman to Congress". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  37. Lyn Mettler (January 4, 2019). "Rep. Debra Haaland wears traditional Native American dress to swearing-in ceremony". NBC News. Archived from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  38. Frazin, Rachel (March 7, 2019). "First Native American Congresswoman presides over House". The Hill. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  39. Kasana, Mehreen (March 7, 2019). "Watch Deb Haaland Become The First Native American Woman To Preside Over The House". Bustle. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
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  41. "Pelosi Announces New Appointments to Committees for the 116th Congress". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. January 24, 2019. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  42. "Pelosi Announces New Appointments to the Oversight and Reform Committee for the 116th Congress". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 17, 2019. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  43. Representatives, Sarah Corley and Felicia Salazar | U. S. House of. "Native American Caucus leadership established for 116th Congress". The Ada News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  44. "Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members". cpc-grijalva.house.gov. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  45. Eilperin, Juliet; Grandoni, Dino. "Biden picks Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to be first Native American interior secretary". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
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  47. Rott, Nathan (December 17, 2020). "In Historic Move, Biden To Pick Native American Rep. Haaland As Interior Secretary". NPR. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  48. ""They feel hope": Why Rep. Haaland, nominated as first Native American interior secretary, is meaningful". NBC News. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  49. Broadwater, Luke; Fandos, Nicholas (December 16, 2020). "Pelosi backs Haaland for interior secretary, calling her 'one of the best' members of Congress". The New York Times. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
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Party political offices
Preceded by
Sam Bregman		 Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party
2015–2017		 Succeeded by
Richard Ellenberg
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Michelle Lujan Grisham		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Mexico's 1st congressional district
2019–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Michael Guest		 United States Representatives by seniority
323rd		 Succeeded by
Jim Hagedorn
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