Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter Endorses Haaland, Her Plans to Protect New Mexico’s Natural Resources
Albuquerque, N.M. – Today, the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter (SCRGC) announced their endorsement of Deb Haaland to be the next governor of New Mexico.
SCRGC is a grassroots organization that works to defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. SCRGC has consistently fought to promote renewable energy, safeguard the health of our communities and preserve and protect our land and resources.
“We’re proud to endorse Deb Haaland for Governor because she understands that protecting our land, water, and communities is essential to New Mexico’s future. From defending our public lands to investing in renewable energy, Deb has consistently stood up for the people and places we love. She knows that a strong economy and a healthy environment go hand in hand, and she has the experience to deliver on both. The Sierra Club is excited to support Deb Haaland as the next governor of New Mexico,” said Richard Barish, President, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter.
“Throughout my career, I have worked to protect our public lands, strengthen environmental protections, and safeguard our communities,” said Haaland. “As a member of Laguna Pueblo, where years of uranium mining caused generations of cancer, I have seen firsthand the impacts of air, land, and water contamination. As governor, I will continue to prioritize healthy environments and make our state a leader in renewable energy.”
The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter joins multiple environmental organizations that have endorsed Haaland including: New Mexico Wild and Conservation Voters NM. Haaland previously released a healthcare agenda that included a plan to protect New Mexicans health through a health environment, with bold solutions to:
- Make sure every New Mexican can drink safe water.
- Protect New Mexicans from air pollution.
- Plant more trees where New Mexicans need them most.
- Clean up the legacy pollution.
- Expand more outdoor recreation space in communities.
In Congress, Haaland conducted strong oversight over Trump’s attempts to drill for oil on public lands, fought for land restoration funding, and co-led a bill to expand and extend RECA. She also introduced the Climate Stewardship Act and the Environmental Justice Legacy Pollution Cleanup Act. As Secretary of the Interior, she steered our transition to renewable energy, worked to protect our communities from pollution by strengthening environmental protections and plugging orphaned oil wells, supporting clean vehicle infrastructure, and working to address extreme heat.
Throughout her campaign, Haaland has traveled to all 33 counties in New Mexico, meeting directly with parents, students, educators, and families to hear their concerns and share her vision for New Mexico. Protecting New Mexico’s land, water, and air will continue to be a priority for Haaland.