Deb Haaland
Debra Anne Haaland (born December 2, 1960) 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.
Deb Haaland | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 1st district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Michelle Lujan Grisham |
Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party | |
In office April 25, 2015 – April 29, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Sam Bregman |
Succeeded by | Richard Ellenberg |
Personal details | |
Born | Debra Anne Haaland December 2, 1960 Winslow, Arizona, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 1 |
Education | University of New Mexico (BA, JD) University of California, Los Angeles |
Website | House website |
Early life and education
Haaland was born in Winslow, Arizona.[1][2] [3] She is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo people. Her mother, Mary Toya,[4] a Native American woman, served in the United States Navy.[5] 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.[4] She has three sisters and a brother.[4]
Haaland earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of New Mexico in 1994.[6][7] 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.[6][7][8] She served as the tribal administrator for the San Felipe Pueblo from January 2013 to November 2015.[5][6][7]
Earlier political career
In 2012, Haaland served as the state's vote director for Native Americans in Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign.[9] She ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2014.[5] 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.[9]
She was elected to a two-year term as the Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in April 2015.[10][11] During her tenure, New Mexico Democrats regained control of the New Mexico House of Representatives.[9]
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 New Mexico's 1st congressional district in the 2018 elections, to succeed Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was running for governor.[9] Haaland defeated Damon Martinez to win the Democratic Party nomination in June 2018,[12] receiving 40.5% of the vote and winning every county in the district.[13][14]
In the November 6 general election Haaland defeated former New Mexico State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones,[15] receiving 59.1% of the vote and winning three of the district's five counties.[16][17]
Tenure
Along with Democrat Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Halland is one of the first two Native American women elected to the United States Congress.[18][19][20] During the swearing-in ceremony in January 2019, Haaland wore a traditional Pueblo dress, necklace and boots.[21]
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.[22][23]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Native American Caucus (Co-Chair)[27]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[28]
Electoral history
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 |
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 |
Personal life
Haaland has a daughter, whom she raised on her own.[30][9] Haaland's hobbies include marathon running and gourmet cooking.[6] She is a Catholic.[31]
See also
References
- Candidate Conversation - Deb Haaland (D)
- Peters, Joey (April 26, 2015). "Haaland elected new state Democratic Party Chair". Nmpoliticalreport.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- Contreras, Russell. "Deb Haaland's House Run Could Make Native American History". Time. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- "Obituaries: Haaland". Albuquerque Journal. March 4, 2005. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- "Debra Haaland Could Make History as Lt. Gov. of NM – IndianCountryToday.com". Newsmaven.io. November 28, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- "Deb Haaland's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- "Debra Haaland". LinkedIn. 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- Oxford, Andrew (May 2, 2017). "Haaland, former Dem Party state chairwoman, running for Congress". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- "Former state Democratic Party chairwoman Haaland plans run for Congress". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- Terrell, Steve (April 25, 2015). "State Democrats elect first American Indian to lead party". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- "Democrats elect Haaland state party chairwoman". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- "Past Democratic Party chair Haaland wins nomination". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
- "New Mexico Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.nm.us. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- "New Mexico Primary Election Results: First House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- "Native American Democrat Debra Haaland beats GOP's Janice Arnold-Jones, earns groundbreaking US House win in New Mexico". AP NEWS. November 7, 2018.
- "New Mexico Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.nm.us. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- "New Mexico Election Results: First House District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- Democrats in Kansas, New Mexico Become First Native American Women Elected to Congress, Time Magazine, November 7, 2018. Katie Reilly. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- The U.S. Could Be Getting Its First Native American Congresswoman in November, Fortune, McKenna Moore, June 7, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- Romero, Simon (June 6, 2018). "New Mexico Could Elect First Native American Woman to Congress". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- Lyn Mettler (January 4, 2019). "Rep. Debra Haaland wears traditional Native American dress to swearing-in ceremony". NBC News.
- Frazin, Rachel (March 7, 2019). "First Native American Congresswoman presides over House". TheHill.
- Kasana, Mehreen (March 7, 2019). "Watch Deb Haaland Become The First Native American Woman To Preside Over The House". Bustle.
- "Pelosi Announces New Appointments to Committees for the 116th Congress". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- "Pelosi Announces New Appointments to Committees for the 116th Congress". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
- "Pelosi Announces New Appointments to the Oversight and Reform Committee for the 116th Congress". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- Representatives, Sarah Corley and Felicia Salazar | U. S. House of. "Native American Caucus leadership established for 116th Congress". The Ada News. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- "Congressional Progressive Caucus : Caucus Members". cpc-grijalva.house.gov.
- "New Mexico Election Results". New Mexico Secretary of State. June 6, 2018.
- "NM Democratic Chair Haaland Statement On Marriage Equality". KRWG. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
- "Haaland condemns students' behavior toward Native elder at Indigenous Peoples March". TheHill. January 19, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deb Haaland. |
- Congresswoman Deb Haaland official U.S. House website
- Deb Haaland for Congress
- Be Fierce High Plains Reader
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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 369th |
Succeeded by Jim Hagedorn |