NEW: Deb Haaland Endorsed by Common Defense, Steps Up for New Mexico’s Veterans
Haalnd doubles down on her commitment to fighting for New Mexico’s 122,000+ veterans
Albuquerque, N.M. – Today, Deb Haaland, candidate for New Mexico governor, spoke with veterans groups in Santa Fe to hear their concerns and priorities for the future of the state. At a press conference, she outlined the threats New Mexico’s veterans face as the Trump Administration continues to cut services and staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Haaland is committed to standing up for veterans by strengthening the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services, filling the gaps in veterans programs after the Trump Administration slashed funding, creating programs that formally recognize veterans’ transferable skills in the civilian workforce, and cracking down on predatory businesses that try to exploit veterans.
During the press conference, Jose Vasquez, U.S. Army Veteran and the Executive Director of Common Defense, announced his organization’s endorsement of Haaland, and Haaland announced the formation of the Vets for Deb affinity group.
“Veterans know something in their core: real strength comes from standing together. Service means sacrifice,” said Deb Haaland, whose mother was in the Navy and father was in the Marines. “And freedom requires constant vigilance and action, and I will always work to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.”
The endorsement from Common Defense, the largest grassroots membership organization of progressive veterans, is yet another indicator that the momentum of Haaland’s campaign is not slowing down. Additionally, Vets for Deb will be a critical contributor to the campaign’s efforts to reach voters who have been left behind by the current Presidential administration.
“Veterans know what real leadership looks like, and Deb Haaland is a real leader who has never backed down from a fight that matters. She is committed to defending our democracy, stands up for Native communities and veterans who have too often been left behind, she’s shown us what public service is supposed to be,” said Jose Vasquez, a US Army veteran and the Executive Director of Common Defense. “Our members are proud to stand with her because she’s one of us—someone who prioritizes people over politics and fights like hell for the democracy and future veterans like us swore to defend.”
So far, 2,400 VA employees have been terminated, and more than 80,000 are expected to be terminated in the coming months under the Trump Administration. The staff cuts will be detrimental to services and programs that the VA provides to New Mexico’s 122,000+ veterans. In addition, 1.6 million veterans rely on Medicaid, and 1.2 million veterans live in families that receive food assistance through SNAP, both of which stand to be gutted under Trump’s budget. At a speech previewing her economic agenda, Haaland also sounded the alarm about cuts to the Small Business Administration (SBA) programs that support veteran business owners and committed to ensuring New Mexico’s small businesses, including those owned by veterans, have the support they need to succeed.
Josh Jones, Air Force Veteran and member of the Vets for Deb affinity group, said, “We can trust Deb to fight for veterans. Deb’s strong record shows that she understands what veterans go through and the services we deserve for serving our country.”
Aside from Common Defense, Haaland’s campaign has been endorsed by scores of New Mexican local elected officials, Senator Ben Ray Luján, Representatives Teresa Leger Fernandez, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez, and organizations including Conservation Voters New Mexico Action Fund and EMILYs List.