Deb Haaland is backing fellow far-leftist, Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, for lieutenant governor, ending days of jockeying among New Mexico Democrats after Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver abruptly suspended her campaign just weeks after winning the Democratic primary.
The endorsement is a major boost for Garcia Richard, who had previously launched her own lieutenant governor campaign before withdrawing from the race earlier this year. Now, after Toulouse Oliver’s exit, Garcia Richard is back in the hunt — this time with Haaland’s blessing.
In a statement dated June 26, Haaland told Democrat State Central Committee members that she had decided to endorse Garcia Richard following what she described as a thorough process.
“I thank each person who put their name forward and who participated in this endorsement process of the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor,” Haaland wrote. “Each candidate I spoke with has a deep love and commitment to moving New Mexico forward. This was a difficult decision to make and I’m grateful for your patience and respect.”
Haaland then made her pick clear.
“I am proud to endorse Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard,” Haaland wrote. “I’ve made the decision based on a thorough process and who I believe will be the best running mate and leader to lower costs, increase access to healthcare, build safe communities, and improve our schools.”
Haaland added that Garcia Richard “brings the energy, compassion, leadership, and proven ability to bring people together” that she believes will strengthen the Democrat campaign.
“I respect the role the SCC plays in this selection and I hope I can count on the support of Committee members for Stephanie,” Haaland wrote.
The statement also made clear that Haaland plans to frame the general election around President Donald Trump.
“The stakes of this race couldn’t be higher because of who is in the White House,” Haaland wrote. “New Mexico needs leadership that can deliver, but we can’t deliver on our promises unless we win in November.”
The endorsement comes after a messy and unusual chain of events for New Mexico Democrats.
Toulouse Oliver had won the Democrat primary for lieutenant governor in a landslide, defeating state Sen. Harold Pope Jr. with 80.9% of the vote to Pope’s 19.1%, according to Ballotpedia. But weeks later, Toulouse Oliver announced she was suspending her campaign, citing health and family reasons.
That left Democrats scrambling to fill the lieutenant governor slot alongside Haaland, who is running for governor after defeating Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the Democrat primary.
Garcia Richard’s return is notable because she had already been in the race once before. According to NM Political Report, she withdrew earlier in the cycle to focus on her husband’s health after Toulouse Oliver entered the race. The same outlet described Garcia Richard as an “instant front runner” if she decided to seek the replacement slot, noting that she has been elected statewide twice and remains popular with the Democrat base.
Other Democrats tried to seize the opening — or at least publicly floated interest — but Haaland’s endorsement appears to leave them on the outside looking in.
Pope, who had just been crushed by Toulouse Oliver in the primary, confirmed after her withdrawal that he was interested in being selected anyway. State Sen. Leo Jaramillo of Española also expressed interest, with NM Political Report reporting that he said, “There is interest.”
Source NM later reported that Haaland’s short list included Garcia Richard, Pope, Jaramillo, Antonia Roybal-Mack, and Sonya Smith, a former Department of Veterans Services cabinet secretary. Roybal-Mack, an attorney representing Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire victims, told Source NM she had interviewed with Haaland’s team and called herself “the unknown candidate.”
“I think I’m definitely the unknown candidate. I’m not the party insider,” Roybal-Mack said. “But I think one of the things I told [Haaland’s team], and I say openly, is I fight for things I love, and I would fight for New Mexico.”
Earlier speculation also included Los Ranchos Mayor Lawrence Rael, former State Auditor Brian Colón, and former House Speaker Brian Egolf. Rael told NM Political Report, “Am I interested? Absolutely.”
But after all the names, interviews, and internal maneuvering, Haaland is now publicly urging State Central Committee members to unite behind Garcia Richard.
That does not technically settle the matter. The Democrat Party of New Mexico’s State Central Committee is expected to choose the replacement nominee. Source NM reported that the vote to replace Toulouse Oliver is scheduled for July 25.
Still, Haaland’s endorsement likely carries heavy weight with party insiders. NM Political Report previously noted that while the gubernatorial nominee technically does not get to choose the running mate, a Haaland endorsement would likely make that person the favorite among SCC voters.
For Republicans, the scramble may be easy to frame: Democrats held a primary, saw their nominee drop out, watched rejected candidates jockey for the replacement slot, and now appear poised to install Garcia Richard through a party-insider process.
Republicans already have their ticket set. Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull is running for governor, while former state Sen. David Gallegos won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.
Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to repair the ticket after Toulouse Oliver’s sudden exit. Haaland’s endorsement of Garcia Richard is designed to end the uncertainty.
But the episode still underscores how quickly the Democrat lieutenant governor race turned from a statewide primary into an insider scramble — and how several hopefuls who jumped at the opening appear to have failed to win Haaland’s support.
NM has been under a female governor for 16 years. its time for a change. Garcia richards is another BAN OIL liberal kook. NM, wait until the people you elect shut down the oil industry which provides half the revenue for the state budget. you are going to have to cover that half when they are gone. you cant get a democrat to understand that. anything more than orange man bad they cannot comprehend.
IMHO Both are American hating filth…..both IMHO are the worst trash pos socialists that breathe our air. If these feckless fools get in office NM is doomed. We can only hope and pray the Red get out in force and make sure these trashcans aren’t elected.
because there are so many more dem voters, the repub has to pull about 20 percent of dem voters to vote for them in order to win the election. with todays dem voters, thats highly unlikely. we are about to board the NM Titanic. no life vests allowed or provided. we will all be in the cold icy water soon. as you slip under the waves your last words should be an exclamation of your support of diversity, equity and inclusion. otherwise the word racist will be engraved on your tombstone. Brother, can you spare a dime or a chicken wing ? am i cynical after living the effect of NM politics year after year ? no. im way beyond cynical. im disgusted and cant understand why we vote to live this way. and i support your comment, they are america hating trash.
ORANGE MAN GOOD ! am I allowed to say that ? No ? ok ill go back and sit in the corner as we burn down the state. thanks.
JAY JAY shout it from the roof tops………if nothing else you’ll get to see heads explode!!! ORANGE MAN GOOD, ORANGE MAN GOOD MAGA MAGA MAGA can’t you just see it now💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
Breaking the dem code : “access to healthcare” = more abortion and child mutilation…”safe communities” = more gun laws for legal citizens and free reign for the criminals (victims of oppression)…”improve schools” = a combination of anti America , marx and sesame street.
Nightmare, vote Hull
Yes! I think that “Hate Trump”, “Protect NM from Trump” will be a strong platform to run on – that seems to be their only plank.
Especially when the country has low gas prices, low unemployment, a world free of terrorists, billions of federal fraudsters in prison, a booming stock market, lower/no taxes, a strong military, illegal/criminal immigrants deported, trafficked children saved, the democrat party morphing into the American Communist Party, thousands of babies being murdered and children being sexually mutilated with the blessings of the NM Democrats … I could go on.
I was under the belief that it wasn’t up to her to pick. Is this more Cheating out in the open?
DEMOCRATS — The old faithful Dems of years ago
PLEASE don’t automatically vote a straight Dem ticket. Pease go watch Haaland when she was in the Biden admin and was under questioning from the Oversight Committee! Is THAT who you want in charge of your state? Do you want your children to grow up under Communism and possible Islamic control?
Please investigate before you vote
Thank you
TWO UGLY WHORES
Deb Haaland…are you so stupid not to see what your party has done to our State these last 10 + years, give me a break you air head, it’s not the White House it’s the democrats…and now your Democratic Party is waving the communist socialism flag…