Deb Haaland


Debra Anne Haaland is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district. The district includes most of Albuquerque, along with most of its suburbs. Haaland is a former leader of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. She and Sharice Davids are the first two Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress. Haaland is a member of the Laguna Pueblo people.

Early life and education

Haaland was born in Winslow, Arizona. She is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo people. Her mother, Mary Toya, a Native American woman, served in the United States Navy. 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. She has three sisters and a brother.
Haaland earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Mexico in 1994. 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. She served as the tribal administrator for the San Felipe Pueblo from January 2013 to November 2015.

Earlier political career

In 2012, Haaland served as the state's vote director for Native Americans in Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign. She ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2014. Her ticket, headed by then Attorney General of New Mexico Gary King, the party's nominee for Governor of New Mexico, lost to the Republican ticket of Governor Susana Martinez and Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez.
She was elected to a two-year term as the Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in April 2015. During her tenure, New Mexico Democrats regained control of the New Mexico House of Representatives.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018 general election

After the expiration of her term, Haaland announced her intention to run for the United States House of Representatives in in the 2018 elections, to succeed Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was running for governor. Haaland defeated Damon Martinez to win the Democratic Party nomination in June 2018, receiving 40.5% of the vote and winning every county in the district.
In the November 6 general election Haaland defeated former New Mexico State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones, receiving 59.1% of the vote and winning three of the district's five counties.

Tenure

Along with Democrat Sharice Davids, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Halland is one of the first two Native American women elected into the United States Congress. During the swearing-in ceremony in January 2019, Haaland wore a traditional Pueblo dress, necklace and boots.
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.

Committee assignments

Personal life

Haaland has a daughter, whom she raised on her own. Haaland's hobbies include marathon running and gourmet cooking. She is a Catholic.