New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich chose not to endorse former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in her newly announced campaign for governor, making him the only federally elected Democrat from New Mexico to withhold support so far. His decision comes just weeks after he ruled out running for the position himself.
Haaland’s campaign launch on Tuesday sparked a wave of endorsements from the state’s Democrat congressional delegation. Senator Ben Ray Luján, along with Representatives Melanie Stansbury, Teresa Leger Fernandez, and Gabe Vasquez, all quickly voiced their support. Their backing solidified Haaland’s strong standing within New Mexico’s Democrat leadership. However, Heinrich, who has successfully won statewide office three times and holds considerable influence in the state, remains the only major Democratic figure yet to publicly endorse her.
During an interview with POLITICO’s E&E News, Heinrich did not clarify whether he intends to back Haaland’s candidacy, offering only a vague response when asked about his plans. “If I do, I’ll let you know,” he remarked, leaving the possibility open.
Heinrich’s decision to stay neutral at this stage is notable, given his leadership role as the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, a key position that shapes federal energy and environmental policy. His influence in New Mexico politics has grown significantly over the years, and an endorsement from him would carry considerable weight.
Haaland, who previously served as a U.S. representative before being appointed Interior Secretary by President Joe Biden, is making her bid for governor after her historic tenure as the first Native American to hold a cabinet-level position. Her candidacy quickly gained momentum with the backing of her former colleagues in Congress, reinforcing her ties to the state’s Democratic base.
Heinrich’s reluctance to immediately endorse her could suggest a variety of strategic considerations. He may be weighing other potential contenders in the race, assessing how Haaland’s campaign unfolds, or considering political dynamics within the state. His past decision to step aside from a gubernatorial run indicated that he was not seeking the office himself, but it remains unclear whether he will actively campaign for any candidate.
Given his track record of winning statewide elections and his seniority within the New Mexico delegation, Heinrich’s endorsement—or lack thereof—could influence the primary landscape. While he has not publicly opposed Haaland, his silence stands in contrast to the enthusiastic support she has received from the rest of the delegation.
As the gubernatorial race continues to take shape, Heinrich’s next moves will be closely watched. Whether he eventually endorses Haaland or remains on the sidelines, his decision could have implications for the party’s unity and the broader contest for New Mexico’s governorship.
Hmmm… very interesting.
Heinrich’s silence is deafening.
I sure don’t want her! She will take NM down the rest of the way! She did her own people dirty with their income on the gas and oil industry. They lost their income!
Also when she was questioned in Congress, it was clear she didn’t have a clue as to what she was supposed to be doing or how to do it.
We are now headed into the NM “Twilight” ZONE.
Haaland is Kamala Harris 2.0
A special person with “Word Salad” qualities.
Not high on the IQ charts either.
Has this state sunk this LOW?
As someone who has watched Deb being questioned in front of Congressional committees, I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment. The Dems would be hard-pressed to find a worse candidate. Maybe Heinrich knows of someone else who may throw their hat in the ring?
Gc917 This would be my thought on the subject. He waiting to see if the left field door opens. Deb was the purest of DEI hiring.. When questioned, she was stumbling all over the place! As NM GOP needs to find a successful trump backed candidate. We need national backing and more grassroots growth that happened nationally.
Anyone heinrich knows is not going to be good for this state. heinrich is a communist!!!! PERIOD!!!!!!!
You’ve got that right. She’s another clueless dem.
The GOP needs to find a strong candidate who can WIN! Ken Miyagishima?
Agree
credit where credit is due, I guess.
We Conservatives must stop her from getting the nomination for Governor. She will finish off New Mexico . What’s left of it anyway.
The last election show massive ground can be gained. Conservatives need to run for every possible positions, even dog catcher! There is tons of positions out there that don’t require tons of time. Councils at every level. We also need more NM social media influences. NM libs dominate there. Thoughts??
Agree
Maybe there will be a “Kamala” replacement – someone like Maggie Oliver? Just an observation but I’d be happy if they destroyed themselves with infighting.
Hate to tell ya all, but she has already been selected by all the female dems in washington and fem governors. There isnt any need for a campaign or a gop challenger, sorry.
Deb Haaland will totally ruin NM. She sat at the Congressional hearing like a deer in headlights. She doesn’t have a complete sentence in her brain. She is New Mexico’s Kamala Harris. So bad.
I absolutely agree. DEI.
pretty sad to see who want to be the next governor who has no brain in her head. She would not answer any questions during congressional hearings and was so pathetic. I’m embarrassed to know that I live in a state that is run by stupid and ungodly democraps. I know that the Republicans try hard to get some sort of voice in the round house. Watch that and just go angry how disrespectful of our Republican representatives. God have mercy,
WHO ARE WE GOING TO RUN???
I’m running for City Council again. But the seat doesn’t come up for three years. This time I’m going to win; I’ve got the dirt on the commie tax-money thief in my seat.
But who will run in Santa Fe? I’m sorry, Yvette just doesn’t cut it. She’s lovely, but we need cut-throat, not lovely. Weather speculators need not apply.
The Republican leadership is driving up and down Central looking for The Best Loser. They’ll put out their name as late as possible to not get name recognition. Yes, Yvette was terrible and whoever made were ads, had to have been a Democrat because… HER DOG??? Mark with that stupid smile? OMG!
WHY NOT A MENTION OF SAM BREGMAN, tied to Soros, who wants to continue to run the State.
LOOK FOR WHO ACTBLUE GIVES THEIR MONEY TOO!
Democrats are obsessed with Firsts. People openly said they wanted the First Woman VP, then the First Woman President. Okay, with that reasoning, they voted for Sarah Palin for The First Woman VP…. RIGHT?
To call Haaland dumber than a box of rocks is an insult to rocks. She is the antithesis of meritocracy. She makes MLG look like an intellectual giant. The problem is she is very electable in NM where people vote democrat blindly. If Heinrich knows of someone better good for him. Yvette is not the candidate to beat her. Who ever runs against her either in the primary or general election needs to call Haaland out to debate and play those congressional hearings throughout the campaign.
What about John Black? He fight hard in the round house even thought they (the democraps, and ungodly comrades of MLG). constantly are disrespectful to him and other Republican representatives.
Could it be that Heinrich is holding back to see who the Republican Candidate will be?
Can he resign his Senate seat… become governor and then anoint someone to fill his resigned seat — is that even a possibility?
If possible, it would be a classic Democrat dirty trick.
If claiming to be Transsexual… then EMERGE would back (s)he…
The question has already been asked, who is the conservative candidate? On the dem side both are worthless and will do damage to NM as governors, so the question to the dems is who will take NM down further down the toilet? That is who the dems will vote for, their goal is no freedom, no guns, no rights, illegals before citizens, continue to not teach our children as illiterates are easier to control. But conservatives need to get on the stick, I believe our last candidate was great but I thought she started too late.
Truth be told that the Republicans so need to find someone strong to fight the communists and comrades of MLG and win the governor’s seat.
“Maryland Martin” is probably mad because “The Party” told him not to run against their DEI nominee
I hate to agree with Heinrich on anything, but being hesitant about Haaland is at least in the ball park.
I’m happy to see that so many comments cite her performance in Congress. Yep, she’s pretty much a zero. A puppet for sure.
Even Heinrich knows she is horrible…
Let’s pray that New Mexicans look at history and don’t vote her in just because she is on the dembocrap ticket!!(you can’t push the same button over and over then expect different results!!) She is a proven FAILURE and will push New Mexico deeper in to the bog!! New Mexico needs to rid itself of the same loser politics we’ve seen for decades!! Hiney-lick and little Benny-boy Loserjan need fired too!!
GOOGLE: JUDITH LEBLANC and after finding who she REALLY IS, ADD DEB HAALAND. Leblanc, a Caddo Indian from Oklahoma, lobbied the main Senators on behalf of Haaland, not for them both being Native Americans, but that Leblanc would run Interior. She’s a professional, the biggest ever in the USA. To find her real identity, it may take a couple of pages but BOOM: POLITIBURO MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY USA SINCE 1974. This during the Cold War where she, and the CPUSA, supported THE SOVIET UNION and helped the KGB set up front groups using the CPUSA. The main one was the KGB’s World Peace Council. The U.S. Peace Council/CPUSA. NM Peace Council run by GERRY BRADLEY, CONNECTED TO HEINRICH WITH THE NM COMMUNIST PARTY TOO, who also headed the NM Marxist Educators for Socialist Action. LEBLANC organized these over two thousand fronts with good sounding names like UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE which aided and abetted terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH. She even went to Israel years ago to help organize their PEACE MAKERS… to support TERRORISTS. She went to Gaza, again years ago… to TEACH…. ARE YOU SITTING…. TO TEACH ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING! (All provable on Google). She, and Medea Benjamin/Code Pink, headed the U.S. to Gaza flotilla ships trying to break the blockade of Gaza, all run by the CPUSA and another Politburo member, Leslie Cagan.
SO, YOU SEE that Haaland, Heinrich, are connected to GERRY BRADLEY whose NM Peace Council was a front OF THE SOVIET KGB, ALL WITH THE HELP OF LEBLANC, WHO REALLY RAN INTERIOR! Now why would Bradley fight so hard to get Heinrich into the House and then the Senate? National Security Secrets perhaps???