Democrat wins nomination to be first Native American woman in Congress

One of the triumphs to come out of the Democratic primaries on Tuesday night was Deb Haaland.

Haaland, a former chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico and enrolled member of the Pueblo Laguna, secured the nomination Tuesday for New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District. If elected, she will be the first Native American woman to serve in the history of Congress.

Haaland is running on a platform of protecting the environment, tackling income inequality, and enacting Medicare for All.

“I believe New Mexico can be a place of strong, safe communities where our kids can be happy growing up, and can build a life here when they are grown,” she writes on her campaign site. “I have a track record of standing up to Donald Trump, and I will continue to hold him and Republicans accountable.”

Haaland also advocates the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and would be one of the first sitting members of Congress to do so.

New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District is situated in the center of the state, and includes most of Albuquerque. It has been left open by Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is mounting a bid for governor. Haaland will enter as the clear favorite to win the seat in November, with the Cook Political Report rating the district Solid Democratic.

Haaland is not the only Native American candidate hoping to make history this fall. Paulette Jordan, a member of the Coeur d’Alene tribe who comes from a long line of tribal chiefs in the Pacific Northwest, is running for governor of Idaho.

New Mexico in particular seems ripe for change, as the state has been trending ever bluer. In addition to voting Democratic in six of the last seven presidential elections, Democrats won full control of the legislature in 2016, and are favorites to win the governorship this year.

In every state, from coast to coast, an aspiring generation of new leaders like Haaland are running to defeat the status quo — and voters are lining up to help them make history.