Deb Haaland

Where Haaland stands

Grouped by topic by Vote Book; headings and quoted words are the candidate’s own, with the source under each one. “As reported” items are a news outlet’s description, not an exact quote.

Education

List your top priorities, and explain how you will achieve them.

New Mexicans deserve to be able to afford groceries and rent in the same month, feel safe in their communities, see a doctor when they are sick, and for kids to have a quality public education. To put more money in people’s pockets, I will raise wages, expand tax relief for working families, pursue paid family and medical leave, aggressively build and grow affordable housing, and support job creation. To ensure our kids are able to read by third grade, I will prioritize literacy outcomes and expand investment in universal childcare, community schools, and educator recruitment. Finally on public safety and healthcare, I will tackle violent crime, drugs, and gun violence, while overhauling CYFD and expanding behavioral health service.

What measures would you propose to improve Pre-K - 12 education?

My goal is for every step of a child’s education to open doors. My top priority is helping kids read by third grade, because reading sets them up to succeed in every subject. I will invest in literacy support, coaches, summer learning, math screening and intervention, and stronger instruction. I will protect and expand universal childcare with quality childcare options, and make early education easier to access. To support kids who might not want to go to college, I will bring the trades into middle school and more high schools. For educators, I plan to expand teacher residencies, improve pay and benefits, help with housing in rural communities, and expand community schools plus Native language and culture programs for Tribal students.

Energy & environment

No utility rate increases & reliable energy for New Mexicans

Require data centers to build their own renewable energy infrastructure to keep energy costs from passing onto consumers and local communities, while also improving energy reliability

Protect New Mexico’s water

Require closed-loop systems and the best available technology to protect New Mexico’s clean water supply. Place effective penalties on any industry overuse or water waste

Clean air, land, and habitat

Robust and practical plans to ensure data centers don’t harm our water, air, or environment. Protections for communities that are disproportionately impacted by irresponsible development, and adherence to clean air standards, noise limits, light pollution restrictions, habitat protections, and more

How would you address future water needs in an increasingly arid state?

I will always protect New Mexico’s water, air, and land. Water is precious—I carried it as a child from the community spigot to my grandmother’s house. Our water future must be built on conservation, infrastructure, accountability, and partnership. I will help Tribal nations, rural towns, acequia communities, and colonias repair aging systems, reduce leaks, and grow the workforce needed to keep water flowing. I will strengthen the Water Trust Board, prioritize communities with unsafe drinking water, hold polluters accountable, and require high-water-use industries to conserve so economic growth does not come at the expense of our limited water supply.

Jobs, wages & cost of living

New Mexico jobs for New Mexico workers

Projects must be built and run with New Mexico labor, ensuring New Mexicans get job opportunities first, that those jobs are union, and that they meet prevailing wage and fringe-benefit rates. Invest in local pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs in partnership with labor unions. Set in-state workforce …

What criteria should be applied when considering proposed large economic development projects?

New developments must be mutually beneficial, creating good-paying jobs for New Mexicans using local labor while protecting families from cost increases. Projects must prioritize community well-being, utilizing transparency, community benefit agreements, accountability, and clawback provisions to ensure promises are kept. Investment must safeguard water, air, land, and public health, require accurate water reporting, and ensure industries support clean energy and grid stability. I aim for New Mexico to lead in energy, tech, film, and outdoor recreation with long-term value for our communities, preventing exploitation by outside corporations seeking short-term gains.

Families & communities

No backroom deals, strong community benefits

Open, transparent, and meaningful conversations without NDAs so that communities have a say ahead of decisions, and ensure strong benefits that support schools, roads, infrastructure, workforce, and meet community needs. Formal Tribal consultation is imperative, as is robust monitoring, follow-up, community oversight …

Background & priorities

What qualifies you for this office?

I will bring lived experience and a proven record of results to the Governor’s office. I am a 35th-generation New Mexican, educated in our public schools, and a first-generation college graduate. I’m also a single mom who owned a small business and understands what it means to rely on Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC to keep a family afloat. I was a member of Congress and the Secretary of the Interior, where I managed an $18 billion budget and 70,000 employees. In both positions, I worked across the aisle to deliver infrastructure and broadband investments, protect public lands, launch the Missing and Murdered Unit, advance major clean energy projects, and lead historic pollution cleanup. I know how to make the government work for working people