How New Mexican is Deb Haaland? Does it matter?

04.07.2026

As president of the Rio Grande Foundation and having been in New Mexico for 20 years (albeit having grown up elsewhere) one of the most infuriating things about New Mexico politics is the undue emphasis on being a “native New Mexican.” That said, Deb Haaland has played the game and touted her being a “35th generation” New Mexican. And indeed she is an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo.

But, as Sean Davis of The Federalist points out, she was actually born in Winslow, AZ to parents who were ALSO not born in New Mexico (he actually was and RGF’s president knew Davis when both worked on Capitol Hill).  Does it MATTER that Deb Haaland wasn’t born in New Mexico? Quite frankly, we don’t think so. The election for New Mexico SHOULD be on policies and ideas for moving New Mexico forward, not past events that were simply not under the control of the person seeking the office.

But, on the flip side, people like Deb Haaland should also be campaigning on her vision for New Mexico, not her “New Mexico” lineage.