Former President Barack Obama endorses Deb Haaland in NM governor’s race

With early voting underway in New Mexico, President Barack Obama shared a video on Wednesday endorsing Democratic governor candidate Deb Haaland. 

Haaland is from Laguna Pueblo and is ahead of her Republican opponent Gregg Hull in the polls. A poll released Oct. 4 by KOB 4 and SurveyUSA showed Haaland with a 7% lead in the race; 12% of voters said they remain undecided.

Early voting started in the state on Oct. 6, which was also the last day to register to vote. Voters who requested absentee ballots should receive those in the mail soon, and people can vote in person at county clerk offices statewide. Early voting expands Oct. 17 with additional early voting centers opening across the state. 

Obama praised Haaland’s start as a community organizer and canvasser. Haaland worked on his 2012 re-election campaign as a Native American Vote Director in the state.

“That's what Deb did on my campaign, knocking on thousands of doors in Indian Country,” Obama said in the video. “And all these years later, she's still listening to folks in every corner of New Mexico. As governor, Deb will lower costs, strengthen education, build safer communities and protect your healthcare because she knows what families are up against.”

Haaland said she was honored to “earn” Obama’s endorsement.