Mescalero Apache Tribe Endorses Haaland for Governor

Recognizes Haaland’s “sterling record and potential for the State of New Mexico”

Albuquerque, N.M. – Today, the Mescalero Apache Tribe announced their support and endorsement for Deb Haaland to be the next Governor of New Mexico. 

The Tribe stated in a letter, “Deb Haaland understands rural and ranching community needs and priorities and has the experience to secure long-sought health care and law enforcement solutions for the state.” 

Mescalero Apache Tribe President Duane T. Duffy added, “New Mexico needs a Governor to protect its natural landscape and unlock prosperity for everyone instead of only a few; voting for Haaland will fill that need.”

“I am honored to earn the endorsement and support of the Mescalero Apache Tribe,” said Haaland. “Every Tribal community deserves access to the resources that make our communities safer and healthier. As Governor, I will work to create a New Mexico for all New Mexicans, so everyone has the opportunity to thrive here at home.”

As one of the first Native American women to be elected to Congress and the first Native American to serve as a presidential Cabinet Secretary, Haaland has been a stalwart advocate for Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and economic opportunity. In Congress and as Secretary of the Interior, Haaland protected sacred sites, advanced Native-owned businesses initiatives, addressed violent crime against Native Americans, took decisive action on the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and oversaw millions of dollars of investment in water, roads, fire protection, and bridge infrastructure projects for Tribes in New Mexico. 

Haaland has also earned broad support from Native leaders and organizations across the state, including: New Mexico Native Vote, the Native Organizers Alliance, Advance Native Political Leadership, former New Mexico Indian Affairs Secretaries Alvin Warren and Lynn Trujillo, State Senators Paulene Abeyta, Angel Charley, and Shannon Pinto, State Representative Charlotte Little, Taos Pueblo Fashion Designer Patricia Michaels, and former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez. 

Read Mescalero Apache’s announcement:

The Mescalero Apache Tribe announced today that it is endorsing the Honorable Deb Haaland as candidate for Governor of New Mexico in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

The Tribal Council voted to formally support Haaland during a duly called meeting, recognizing her sterling record and potential for the State of New Mexico as its next Governor.

The endorsement acknowledges Deb Haaland’s public service as one of the first female Native American U.S. Representatives and the first U.S. Presidential Cabinet Member when she served as the U.S. Secretary of Interior.

As Secretary of the Interior, she created the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to examine the legacy of the U.S. using federal agents to take Indigenous children from their homes and confine them to boarding schools to both destabilize tribes and dispossess them of territory. Her work ultimately led President Biden to apologize on behalf of the U.S. to tribes for the mistreatment of Indian children in boarding schools.

From the Pueblo of Laguna and a military-family, Deb Haaland understands rural and ranching community needs and priorities and has the experience to secure long-sought health care and law enforcement solutions for the state.

“New Mexico needs a Governor to protect its natural landscape and unlock prosperity for everyone instead of only a few; voting for Haaland will fill that need,” said President Duane T. Duffy.