Deb Haaland wins Democratic race for governor

By Joshua Bowling, NM Source

June 2, 2026

Former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is the Democratic nominee to be New Mexico’s next governor after handily defeating fellow Democrat Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in Tuesday’s primary election. 

Polls closed across New Mexico at 7 p.m. About 30 minutes later, local pollsters and the Associated Press called the race for Haaland.

In Albuquerque, around the Old Town plaza, Haaland supporters gathered and raised “Deb for Gov” signs in the air.

“I’ve known Deb for about a quarter of a century…long before the fancy titles,” state Rep. Derrick Lente (D-Sandia Pueblo) said from the Old Town gazebo to a crowd of Haaland supporters. 

Haaland will face the winner of the three-way Republican race for governor — between former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, communications professional Doug Turner and former state cabinet secretary-turned cannabis CEO Duke Rodriguez — in the Nov. 3 general election. 

In response to her win, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin released a statement congratulating Haaland and calling her “a proven fighter who will stand up for New Mexicans, and we are fired up to elect her. While Trump’s extreme agenda has inflicted real pain on families throughout the state, Haaland will fight to bring down the cost of living, expand access to healthcare, keep communities safe, and protect public lands. Ahead of November, the DNC is ready to help organize and mobilize voters to send Haaland to Santa Fe.”

In the three-way Republican gubernatorial campaign, former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull was leading with 48% of the vote, followed by Doug Turner at 36% and Duke Rodriguez at 16%.

Earlier in the evening, speaking over the sound of wind snapping against the handful of tents before the New Mexican Republican Party headquarters, Hull emphasized unity to a crowd of three dozen party faithful Tuesday evening.

“I hope to hear the same thing from every other candidate tonight. If I don’t win this primary, whoever does win this primary, I’m 100% behind that candidate, because at the end of the day, we need to win the Roundhouse,” Hull said. “We’ve got to come together, we’ve got to unify.”Source NM is at Haaland’s campaign party awaiting her remarks, and monitoring the rest of the races as well. This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the night.