Native women are already the glue of our communities to begin with,
said Jordan James Harvill, senior director of Advanced Native Political Leadership. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that leadership reached a new milestone as two Native American women secured historic victories in the U.S. midterm elections, winning a state governorship and a U.S. Senate seat. The results arrive as part of a broader shift in control of Congress, with Democrats projected to take the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
Deb Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, has been elected governor of New Mexico. According to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State, Haaland secured 57% of the vote, defeating Republican challenger Gregg Hull, who earned 45% according to early counts. Her victory marks the first time a Native American woman has been elected to lead a U.S. state.
Haaland’s win ends a trend of more than 40 years where New Mexico alternated between Democratic and Republican governors. She is set to replace Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is term-limited after eight years in office. Haaland’s history in the state includes serving as the chair of the state’s Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017 and representing New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District from 2019 to 2021. She becomes the third consecutive woman to hold the governorship, following Lujan Grisham and Susana Martinez.
Speaking to supporters at the Route 66 Casino Hotel in Albuquerque, she emphasized her background as a single mother who once lived in poverty and navigated sobriety, telling the crowd that she is living proof
of what New Mexico can achieve. Addressing the state’s future, she pledged to implement a moratorium on large-scale data centers and vowed to expand medical residency slots and healthcare incentives to address provider shortages.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governor’s Association, praised the election, stating, As a single mom who relied on Medicaid and SNAP, Deb deeply understands the challenges too many New Mexican families face today.
Impact of Native Representation
The 2026 midterms saw a record number of Indigenous candidates running for office. Data collected by Advanced Native Political Leadership (ANPL) showed at least 359 Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian candidates running across 36 states, up from 268 candidates in 2024. Jordan James Harvill, a Cherokee Nation citizen and senior director of ANPL, noted that these victories represent a growing movement of Native women seeking office.
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) called the wins historic milestones. Executive Director Larry Wright Jr. stated, Native women have always been the strength and leadership of our Nations,
adding that these results bring that enduring legacy of leadership into places where Native voices have too often been absent.
While Native Americans make up roughly 1% to 1.5% of the U.S. population, their representation in elected office has historically been low.
Broader Election Context
The election cycle also saw other notable outcomes for Indigenous candidates. Rep. Sharice Davids of the Ho-Chunk Nation was projected to win a fifth term, continuing her status as the longest-serving Native woman in Congress. In Alaska, the race involving Yup’ik Democrat Mary Peltola remains a toss-up against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, with final results expected to depend on ranked-choice tabulation.
Nationwide, the 2026 midterms were marked by significant spending, with reports indicating over $3.2 billion was utilized across various campaigns. As the new administration prepares for the upcoming legislative sessions, Haaland noted that her team is already in contact with legislative leadership to prepare budget recommendations and address the state’s healthcare affordability challenges.
Earlier coverage: Democrats Win US Midterms 2026: Historic Defeat for Trump and the Republicans
