Tribal endorsements cause stir in NM governor race

Yahoo

3 days ago

Aug. 10—SANTA FE — If successful in her bid to become New Mexico's next governor, Deb Haaland would be the first female Native American governor elected in United States history.
But the former U.S. interior secretary does not have all New Mexico tribes lining up behind her in the race's early going, as one pueblo has already endorsed her primary opponent, Sam Bregman.
Bregman recently announced the endorsement of Sandia Pueblo, with his campaign describing the endorsement as a sign of his growing momentum in the race.
"It means a tremendous amount to me and my campaign that they have trust in me," Bregman said in a Thursday interview, while adding that he's confident other endorsements from tribal groups will be forthcoming.
Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney, also said his office has about 50 criminal cases pending on Sandia Pueblo, which covers more than 22,000 acres just north of Albuquerque.
Sandia Pueblo Gov. Felix Chaves said in an endorsement letter that he and other tribal leaders were confident Bregman would prioritize issues such as tribal sovereignty and water rights if elected governor, adding, "We trust that you will continue to be a strong advocate for all pueblos and the people of New Mexico."
Meanwhile, Haaland has landed the endorsement of Jemez Pueblo, contrary to the Bregman campaign's claim that the Sandia Pueblo endorsement marked the first tribal endorsement of the 2026 campaign cycle.
A campaign spokeswoman said Haaland has a strong working relationship with tribes built on mutual respect, while also citing her past work to secure tribal funding as interior secretary.
The campaign also sent a statement from Jemez Pueblo Gov. George Shendo Jr., who said Haaland had fought for the tribe's economic interests and cultural values.
"As she moves forward in her run for governor, she will continue standing up for communities that have been left behind by the rich and powerful and will continue fighting to make life better and more affordable for New Mexicans," said Haaland campaign spokeswoman Felicia Salazar.
University of New Mexico political science professor Gabriel Sanchez said endorsements generally do not have a significant impact when it comes to influencing voters.
"In this case, the endorsement of Sandia Pueblo's leadership is helpful for Bregman but will not have a huge impact on the outcome given that the influence would be limited to voters from Sandia Pueblo who are moved by the endorsement," Sanchez told the Journal.
But he also said the Sandia Pueblo endorsement could be politically significant, while adding he still expects Haaland to receive the majority of votes from Native American voters in New Mexico in next year's primary election.
"If Bregman can gain some additional endorsements and eat into that projected lead among Native American voters, that could be huge for his campaign," Sanchez said.
Haaland and Bregman are vying, along with former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, for the Democratic nomination in next year's gubernatorial race, which is expected to be an expensive contest. The winner of the June 2026 primary election will likely enter the general election as the favorite, as no Republican has won a statewide race in New Mexico since former Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura did so in 2016.
Haaland, who is an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo and is a former tribal administrator for San Felipe Pueblo, became the first Native American Cabinet secretary after being appointed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
While Haaland received accolades for many of her decisions as interior secretary, she also faced criticism at times.
That includes an outcry over her 2023 decision to bar new oil and gas leasing in a 10-mile radius around Chaco Canyon from Navajo Nation residents who financially benefit from drilling royalties.
For his part, Bregman has in the past represented clients who have filed lawsuits against tribal casinos over unpaid jackpots caused by machine malfunctions.
But his campaign has also touted his efforts to protect minority communities, including by maintaining a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Unit in the Bernalillo County District Attorney's office.
Native Americans make up a significant voting bloc in New Mexico, as they represent more than 10% of the state's population, according to the 2020 census.
The state's 23 federally recognized tribes follow their own timelines and procedures for political endorsements, though most tribes require candidates to personally appear before tribal leaders in order to be considered.
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