Haaland Sounds Alarm on Rural Healthcare Crisis, Vows to Defend New Mexico from Trump’s “Big Billionaire Bill”

Haaland stands with rural New Mexicans as 88,000 face losing Medicaid coverage

ESPAÑOLA, N.M. – Today, Deb Haaland, candidate for New Mexico governor, held a press conference in front of a hospital in Española to sound the alarm on the devastating impact of President Trump and Republicans’ “Big Billionaire Bill” on rural health care centers across New Mexico. Haaland outlined her plan to defend rural hospitals and health centers facing devastating cuts, and to protect healthcare coverage for more than 88,000 New Mexicans.

“There’s a crisis on the horizon – many rural hospitals across the state are at risk of closing,” said Haaland. “I grew up in a rural community. I know how devastating this bill will be for the thousands of New Mexicans who will lose their healthcare, and spoiler alert: it’s not just about health care. It’s about the economy at large. As Governor, I will do everything in my power to stop it.”

WATCH > Deb Haaland Press Conference Defending Rural Healthcare 

The legislation threatens to strip Medicaid coverage from more than 88,000 New Mexicans while driving up premiums for everyone else. The nearly 40% of New Mexico’s population who rely on Medicaid—the largest proportion in the country—will all be at risk, and hospitals across the state that depend on Medicaid payments will face massive budget holes, leading to fewer services and longer wait times. The cuts will force the state government to fill gaps with funding that would otherwise be available for job creation, schools, and other investments that make life better for New Mexicans. In addition, the changes in healthcare funding will lead to higher premiums for New Mexicans who get their healthcare through Medicare and private insurance.

“Let’s be clear: this bill isn’t just bad for New Mexicans on the margins, it will mean all of us have to pay more for our healthcare—all so out-of-state billionaires could get an even bigger tax cut,” Haaland continued. “As Governor, I will fight every day to lower costs for New Mexicans and use our state’s resources to make their lives better, not harder.”

Haaland announced a roadmap to weather what she called “the devastating storm that Trump and his wealthy friends are brewing.” Her plan includes using New Mexico’s budget surplus to prioritize ensuring that people avoid losing health care coverage, with significant new appropriations to New Mexico’s Health Care Affordability Fund. She also proposed hiring more guides to help people navigate insurance enrollment through BeWell NM, plus added services to help New Mexicans facing additional, intentional bureaucratic burdens imposed by Trump’s new law.

“If DC politicians won’t invest in New Mexicans, I will,” Haaland emphasized. “I won’t sit by as New Mexicans get sicker and pay more for their healthcare. As Governor, I will act to protect New Mexicans and help us weather this storm.”

Haaland’s campaign continues to build momentum statewide, with endorsements from healthcare professionals, rural community leaders, and working families across all 33 counties of New Mexico.