Debra Anne Haaland(/ˈhɑːlənd/;[1]born December 2, 1960) is an American politician serving as the 54thUnited States Secretary of the Interior.[2]A member of theDemocratic Party,she previously served as theUS RepresentativeforNew Mexico's 1st congressional districtfrom 2019 to 2021 and as chair of theNew Mexico Democratic Partyfrom 2015 to 2017. Haaland, aNative American,is an enrolled member of theLaguna Pueblotribe.

Deb Haaland
Official portrait, 2021
54thUnited States Secretary of the Interior
Assumed office
March 16, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
DeputyTommy Beaudreau
Laura Daniel-Davis(acting)
Preceded byDavid Bernhardt
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromNew Mexico's1stdistrict
In office
January 3, 2019 – March 16, 2021
Preceded byMichelle Lujan Grisham
Succeeded byMelanie Stansbury
Chair of theNew Mexico Democratic Party
In office
April 25, 2015 – April 29, 2017
Preceded bySam Bregman
Succeeded byRichard Ellenberg
Personal details
Born
Debra Anne Haaland

(1960-12-02)December 2, 1960(age 64)
Winslow, Arizona,U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Laguna Pueblo
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Skip Sayre
(m.2021)
Children1
EducationUniversity of New Mexico(BA,JD)
Signature

Haaland's congressional district included most ofAlbuquerqueand most of its suburbs. Along withSharice Davids,she is one of the first two Native American women elected to theUS Congress.She is a politicalprogressivewho supports theGreen New DealandMedicare for All.[3][4]

On December 17, 2020, then-President-elect Joe Biden announced that he would nominate Haaland to serve asSecretary of the Interior.She was confirmed by theUS Senateon March 15, 2021, by a vote of 51–40.[5]Following her swearing-in on March 16, she became the first Native American to serve as aCabinetsecretary and the second to serve in the Cabinet, after Republican formervice presidentandKaw NationcitizenCharles Curtis.[6][7]

Early life and education

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Haaland was born inWinslow, Arizona.[8][9]She is an enrolled member of theLaguna Pueblo.[10]The Pueblo people have lived on the land that is now the state of New Mexico since the 1200s and Haaland identifies herself as a 35th-generation New Mexican.[11][12]Her mother, Mary Toya,[13]aNative American woman,served in theUnited States Navyand also worked in theBureau of Indian Affairs.[14][15]Her father, Major John David "Dutch" Haaland, aNorwegian Minnesotan,was an officer in theUnited States Marine Corpsand recipient of theSilver Starfor his actions inVietnam;he was buried with full military honors atArlington National Cemeteryin 2005.[13][16][17]

Asa child in a military family,Haaland moved frequently.[18]She attended 13 public schools across the United States before the family settled inAlbuquerque, New Mexico,to be close to family who also belong to the Laguna Pueblo.[19]Haaland graduated fromHighland High Schoolin Albuquerque in 1978.[18][19]She has two sisters, a brother, and two half-sisters.[13]

After high school, Haaland worked at a local bakery.[19][20]She struggled withalcoholismduring this period, including two arrests fordriving under the influence,but has beensobersince enrolling in college in 1988.[15][20][21]She earned herBachelor of Artsin English from theUniversity of New Mexicoin 1994.[22][23]Her professors included futureUnited States Poet LaureateJoy Harjo,who published Haaland's poetry in a 1997 anthology.[24][25]

Four days after graduation, Haaland gave birth to her child, Somáh.[18]As asingle mother,Haaland started asalsacompany to support herself and her child.[26][27]At times during this period, she has said, she did not earn enough money to afford housing and had to rely on friends for shelter.[18]She says she also relied onfood stampsat times.[26]Haaland earned herJuris Doctorin Indian law from theUniversity of New Mexico School of Lawin 2006, but narrowly failed thebar examlater that year.[22][28][20]

Early career

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After law school, Haaland became a counselor for adults withdevelopmental disabilities,then served as a tribal administrator and casino manager inSan Felipe Pueblo.[22][20]She was the first woman to serve on the board of the Laguna Development Corporation, a Laguna-owned business created to strengthen the Laguna Community and its economy.[19][20]As chairwoman of the board, she oversaw business operations for the second-largest tribal gaming enterprise in New Mexico[29]and successfully advocated for the corporation to create policies and commitments to earth-friendly business practices.[29]

Haaland was New Mexico's vote director for Native Americans inBarack Obama's2012 presidential reelection campaign.[30]She was the chair of the Native American Caucus of theDemocratic Party of New Mexicofrom 2012 to 2013.[11]She ran forLieutenant Governor of New Mexicoin2014.[14]Her ticket, headed by then-Attorney General of New MexicoGary King,the Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Mexico,lost to the Republican ticket of GovernorSusana Martinezand Lieutenant GovernorJohn Sanchez.[31][32]

Haaland was elected to a two-year term as the chair of theDemocratic Party of New Mexicoin April 2015.[33][34]During her tenure, New Mexico Democrats regained control of theNew Mexico House of Representativesand the office of theNew Mexico Secretary of State.[30][35]Haaland has been credited with rebuilding the state party after large defeats for Democrats in New Mexico in 2014.[36]She raised enough money during her two-year term as chair to pay off seven years' worth of debt incurred under previous chairs.[35]

US House of Representatives

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Elections

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2018

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Haaland speaks at"Stop Kavanaugh Rally"at theUS Capitolin 2018.

After the expiration of her term as state party chair, Haaland announced her intention to run for theUnited States House of RepresentativesinNew Mexico's 1st congressional districtin the2018 elections,to succeedMichelle Lujan Grisham,who was running for governor.[30]Haaland defeatedDamon MartinezandAntoinette Sedillo Lopezto win the Democratic Party nomination in June 2018,[37]receiving 40.5% of the vote and winning every county in the district.[38][39]

In the November 6 general election, Haaland defeated former New Mexico State RepresentativeJanice Arnold-Jones,[40]receiving 59.1% of the vote and winning three of the district's five counties.[41][42]Her victory was part of a sweep of New Mexico that saw Democrats win every statewide and federal office on the ballot that year, along with expanding their majority in theNew Mexico House of Representatives.[43][44]

2020

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In the November 3 general election, Haaland received 58.2% of the vote defeating retired police detective Michelle Garcia Holmes, who ran forLieutenant Governor of New Mexicoin the2018 gubernatorial election.[45]

Tenure

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Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM), is sworn in to the House of Representatives by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, accompanied by her mother Mary Toya and her child Somáh.
Awet-plate collodionphotograph of Haaland in 2019

With RepresentativeSharice Davidsof Kansas, a member of theHo-Chunk Nationof Minnesota, elected simultaneously, Haaland was one of the first twoNative Americanwomen to be seated in Congress.[46][47][48]During the swearing-in ceremony in January 2019, Haaland wore traditional Pueblo dress, necklace and moccasins.[49]

Later that month, Haaland said that students fromCovington Catholic High Schoolhad displayed "blatant hate, disrespect, and intolerance” during the2019 Lincoln Memorial confrontation.[50][51]Alibellawsuit brought by students of the school that called Haaland's words "false and defaming" was dismissed on the grounds that her statements were made in the scope of her employment as a legislator.[52][53][54][55]

On March 7, 2019, during a debate on voting rights and campaign finance, Haaland became the firstNative American womanto preside over the USHouse of Representatives.[56][57]

During the116th United States Congress,Haaland "co-sponsored more bills than any other freshman in Congress, and compiled one of the most liberal voting records", according toThe New Yorker.[20]

Haaland served as one of three co-chairs ofElizabeth Warren's2020 presidential campaign.[58]

Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Secretary of the Interior

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Nomination and confirmation

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On December 17, 2020, incoming PresidentJoe Bidenannounced that he would nominate Haaland asSecretary of the Interior.[64]Before Biden nominated Haaland, many senior Democrats had voiced their support for her as Secretary of the Interior, includingHouse SpeakerNancy Pelosi,Majority LeaderSteny Hoyer,and SenatorElizabeth Warren.Republican representativesDon YoungandTom Cole(a member of the Chickasaw Nation) also expressed their support for Haaland's nomination.[65][66][67]

Haaland sworn in as Secretary of the Interior by Vice President Kamala Harris.

On March 15, 2021, Haaland was confirmed by the Senate 51–40, with four Republicans (Collins,Murkowski,Sullivan,Graham) voting to confirm.[5][68]She is the firstNative AmericanCabinetsecretary in US history.[a][69][70][71]Her departure from the House triggered aspecial election in 2021.Haaland was sworn in on March 18, 2021, wearing a combination of traditional Laguna Pueblo regalia and a colorfulribbon skirt,custom-made for her by Agnes Woodward.[72]She has brought Indigenous traditions to the role, often wearing Native jewelry and decorating her office with Native art.[15]

Tenure

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Deb Haaland on 20 February 2023

On her first day as secretary, Haaland met with tribal media in a press conference organized by the department and theNative American Journalists Association,speaking about her intention to include the tribes as decisions that impact them are made.[73]In April 2021, Haaland announced a new unit withinBureau of Indian Affairsthat plans to tackle the decades-long crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans, saying, "We are fully committed to assisting Tribal communities with these investigations, and the MMU will leverage every resource available to be a force-multiplier in preventing these cases from becoming cold case investigations".[74]

In May 2021, Haaland approved the new constitution of theCherokee Nationwith protections forCherokee Freedmen.[75]

In June 2021, Haaland announced the creation of theFederal Indian Boarding School Initiative.The initiative's goal is to investigate long-standing abuse in the now defunctresidential boarding schoolsthat housed Native American children under the 1819Civilization Fund Act.[76][77]Haaland attended a series of Road to Healing events to bring together survivors and their stories.[15]Haaland's grandparents had also been sent to the boarding schools.[15]

In November 2021, Haaland banned the word "squaw",a derogatory term for Native American women, from all federally owned lands, and ordered a task force to determine new names for the 650 places that currently use the word.[78][79]

In March 2023, Haaland announced $25 million to be dedicated to bison conservation.[80]

Haaland was involved in President Biden's designation ofnational monuments,includingAvi Kwa Ame National MonumentandBaaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.[81][82]

While serving as secretary, Haaland is completing amaster's degreeinAmerican Indian studiesat theUniversity of California, Los Angeles.[15]

Haaland spoke at the2024 Democratic National Conventionon August 22, 2024.[83]

Electoral history

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2018 New Mexico's 1st congressional district election[84][85]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Haaland 25,444 40.59
Democratic Damon Martinez 16,182 25.81
Democratic Antoinette Sedillo Lopez 12,919 20.61
Democratic Paul Moya 3,691 5.89
Democratic Pat Davis (withdrawn) 2,385 3.80
Democratic Damian Lara 2,063 3.29
Democratic Jesse Andrew Heitner (write-in) 3 0.00
Total votes 62,687 100
General election
Democratic Deb Haaland 147,336 59.13
Republican Janice Arnold-Jones 90,507 36.32
Libertarian Lloyd Princeton 11,319 4.54
Total votes 249,162 100
Democratichold
2020 New Mexico's 1st congressional district election[86][87]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Debra Haaland (incumbent) 83,032 100.00
Total votes 83,032 100
General election
Democratic Deb Haaland (incumbent) 186,953 58.19
Republican Michelle Garcia Holmes 134,337 41.81
Total votes 321,290 100
Democratichold

Personal life

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Haaland has a child, Somáh, whom she raised as a single mother.[30][88]On August 28, 2021, Haaland married her longtime partner, Skip Sayre, inSanta Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.[89][90]She was previously married in her twenties.[20]

Haaland isCatholic.[91]Her hobbies include marathon running and gourmet cooking.[22]

Haaland suffered a broken leftfibulaon July 17, 2022, while hiking inShenandoah National Park.[92]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Charles Curtis,who was a Kaw citizen and served asVice Presidentbetween 1929 and 1933, was the first ever Native American to serve in aUnited States Cabinet,but never served as a Cabinet secretary.[69]

References

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  1. ^As pronounced by Haaland inher speech to the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
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edit
Party political offices
Preceded by
Sam Bregman
Chair of theNew Mexico Democratic Party
2015–2017
Succeeded by
Richard Ellenberg
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromNew Mexico's 1st congressional district

2019–2021
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by United States Secretary of the Interior
2021–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byasAttorney General Order of precedence of the United States
as Secretary of the Interior
Succeeded byasSecretary of Agriculture
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded byasAttorney General 8th in line
as Secretary of the Interior
Succeeded byasSecretary of Agriculture