Haaland Talks Gila, Polluter Accountability at CVNM Action Fund Event

By Molly Taylor, CVNM Action Fund

March 31, 2026

In late March, as New Mexico communities experienced record high temperatures and snow drought, the importance of protecting our environment was top of mind in Silver City. CVNM Action Fund hosted a community event at the Murray Hotel, a short distance from the state’s gateway to the 3.3 million acre Gila National Forest and the nation’s first designated Gila Wilderness. 

Haaland speaks at CVNM Action Fund event in Silver City. Photo credit: Jay Hemphill

The event bustled with nearly 200 community members who packed the Hotel conference room to hear directly from leaders about the opportunities ahead to protect our water, air, land, wildlife, and cultural heritage. CVNM Action Fund-endorsed candidate Deb Haaland served

as keynote speaker, who eloquently spoke about the importance of electing fierce state leadership at this time in our nation’s history. 

The community of Silver City is no stranger to standing up to polluters and corporate interests. The Gila National Forest is home to a thriving eco-economy, and is widely considered a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. It also is home to the last wild river in the state, a source of drinking water, irrigation, and recreation for thousands. 

Currently, the Gila National Forest is being targeted for new copper mining. Thanks to widespread advocacy and opposition from the local community, a pending proposal from Ivanhoe Electric to explore mining operations in the Pino Altos has been withdrawn. However, a new exploration project by Kennecott Exploration/Rio Tinto is still moving forward. Community leaders have also organized to defeat attempts to dam and divert the Gila River on three separate occasions. 

Deb Haaland amplified this community-driven work in her speech, pledging to protect the river to keep it wild:

“This wilderness is also home to the headwaters of the Gila River; one of the nation’s last wild rivers. A river that weaves through mountains, that beckons fishers, a path to hike along, and a sustainer of life. It’s a river we must protect and if I’m elected as governor I will work to ensure the Gila River remains wild.” 

Haaland speaks to a packed house, highlighting her commitments to keep the Gila River wild. Photo credit: Jay Hemphill

Haaland also talked about the importance of protecting communities from the harms of new developers - from mining to data centers and more - by ensuring that operations do not move forward without strict guardrails. Her remarks were met with robust applause from the crowd:

“If a company, whether it’s mining, big AI (artificial intelligence), corporate developers or anyone else, wants to come into New Mexico - take our resources and think they will get away without strong community benefits, local union jobs, or cleaning up after themselves - they’ll have another thing coming if I’m governor.”

Finally, as New Mexicans look to the 2026 elections to secure strong state leadership to push back against the Trump Administration, Haaland doubled down on her commitment to serving New Mexico communities: 

“I will work to protect our landscapes - continuing legacy pollution clean up. I will increase oversight over polluters - including codifying emissions standards - and working to chart a new path to a clean energy future. I will put the fight to the Trump Administration anytime they seek to undercut the conservation initiatives that we have fought for. I will increase protections for endangered species, so that we can keep the balance of nature that our state relies on. I will protect our water from heavy users like data centers, modernize and expand groundwater management, and adopt the best sustainability practices in overdrawn systems. I will keep the Gila River wild with necessary environmental protection and regulatory framework. I will ensure the state does what it can to rein in exploitive mining practices that have threatened our water systems… I’m proud that I’ve had the opportunity to leave my mark in conservation - but I’m even more proud to work alongside all of you, and I’m ready to show the country that New Mexico can be a leader.”

The event benefitted CVNM Action Fund, CVNM’s coordinated political action committee.