By Kevin Hendricks
New Mexico voters heard a campaign pitch from a familiar voice Wednesday. Former President Barack Obama wants them to elect Democrat Deb Haaland as their next governor. The endorsement comes with early voting underway in the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
In a video posted to social media by Haaland’s campaign, Obama said Haaland would lower costs, strengthen education, build safer communities and protect health care. He cited her years as a single mom who relied on SNAP, WIC and Medicaid while starting a small business.
“Deb has spent her entire career fighting for New Mexicans,” Obama said.
The two have worked together for more than a decade. Haaland was Obama’s Native American vote director in New Mexico during his 2012 reelection campaign, according to her campaign. Obama also endorsed Haaland’s first run for Congress in 2018, part of a wave of 81 candidates he backed that year.
Haaland said they share roots as organizers who knocked on thousands of doors and listened to voters.
“Now, I’m running for governor to take those concerns to the Roundhouse,” Haaland said.
Haaland faces Republican Gregg Hull on Nov. 3. Hull has said his campaign focuses on public safety, education, infrastructure and economic value for taxpayers. He has a high-profile endorsement of his own: Former Gov. Gary Johnson endorsed Hull, citing his 12 years as Rio Rancho mayor.
If she wins, Haaland, a former U.S. interior secretary and congresswoman, would become the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history.
Vote in the 2026 governor’s race:
- Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3
- Early voting: Underway now at county clerk offices; expanded early voting sites open Oct. 17
- Check your registration and find your polling place: voterportal.servicenm.gov
- Haaland campaign: debhaaland.com/
- Hull campaign: gregghull.com/
- Watch the Obama endorsement video: youtube.com/watch?v=Lf0bNfHIAgs