Climate Champion Deb Haaland Wins New Mexico Governor’s Race in Historic First

Deb Haaland, the former United States Interior Secretary hailed by environmental groups as a climate champion, has won the race for governor of New Mexico, becoming the first Native American woman elected governor in American history.

The Associated Press called the race on Tuesday evening, 3 November, with Haaland, a Democrat and citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, leading Republican Gregg Hull, a businessman and former mayor of Rio Rancho, by about 57 per cent to 43 per cent in unofficial results. Haaland, 65, will succeed term-limited Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and take office on 1 January 2027, alongside Lieutenant Governor-elect Stephanie Garcia Richard — the first all-woman ticket ever elected to lead New Mexico.

A victory speech about land and water

In her victory speech, Haaland spoke about clean water and protecting New Mexico’s lands, according to the New Mexico Wild Action Fund, which backed her campaign. She will also be New Mexico’s third straight female governor, and she and Garcia Richard will lead the state’s executive branch together.

Haaland announced her run for governor in mid-February 2026, after finishing her term as Interior Secretary in January. The Associated Press declared her the winner less than two hours after polls closed, and the results remain unofficial pending certification by the New Mexico Secretary of State.

From the Interior Department to Santa Fe

Haaland served as US Interior Secretary from March 2021 to January 2025, the first Native American to hold a cabinet post in the United States. Before that, she represented New Mexico in Congress from 2019 to 2021, as one of the first Native American women elected to Congress.

At the Interior Department, she led the America the Beautiful initiative, the national effort to conserve at least 30 per cent of US lands and waters by 2030. Conservation groups say more than 25 million acres of public lands were moved into protected status during her tenure, and co-stewardship agreements with Tribal nations rose from 20 to more than 200 in 2023. Her department also pursued a goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, and she has said public lands account for about a quarter of US carbon emissions — arguing that clean energy on public lands can create jobs while cutting emissions.

Why the win matters for climate action

Environmental group EDF Action congratulated “climate champion” Haaland on 4 November, saying she had spent decades promoting clean energy and fighting for the protection of land and water. New Mexico is a major oil- and gas-producing state, so a governor with a conservation record now takes charge of its energy and land decisions.

The win also comes just days before COP31 opens in Antalya on 9 November, putting a climate-focused leader in charge of a US state as the world’s governments gather for climate talks. Haaland is not the only climate champion in the COP31 spotlight: Sally Higgins serves as the COP31 Presidency’s Youth Climate Champion.

Key facts

• Election: 3 November 2026; the Associated Press called the race the same evening.
• Result: about 57 per cent to 43 per cent over Republican Gregg Hull, in unofficial results.
• Historic first: the first Native American woman elected governor in US history.
• Takes office: 1 January 2027, for a four-year term, with Lieutenant Governor-elect Stephanie Garcia Richard.
• Record: first Native American cabinet secretary; led the America the Beautiful conservation effort; conservation groups say more than 25 million acres were protected.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Deb Haaland?

A citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, Haaland is a former US Representative for New Mexico and served as US Interior Secretary from March 2021 to January 2025, the first Native American to hold a cabinet post. She has now been elected governor of New Mexico.

Why is she described as a climate champion?

Environmental groups use the label for her record: leading the America the Beautiful effort to protect 30 per cent of US lands and waters by 2030, moving more than 25 million acres of public land into protected status according to conservation groups, expanding Tribal co-stewardship, and pursuing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030. EDF Action called her a climate champion when congratulating her on the election win.

When does she take office as governor?

She takes office on 1 January 2027 for a four-year term, succeeding term-limited Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Who did she defeat in the election?

Republican Gregg Hull, a businessman and former mayor of Rio Rancho, by about 57 per cent to 43 per cent in unofficial results. Hull had not conceded when the race was called.

What does her win mean as COP31 approaches?

It puts a governor with a conservation and clean-energy record in charge of a major oil- and gas-producing US state just as COP31 opens in Antalya on 9 November 2026. Her record will now be tested at state level, on land, water and energy decisions, while the world’s governments negotiate in Antalya.