Deb Haaland becomes first Native American woman elected governor

Two Native American women made history in Tuesday's midterm elections, winning a governorship and a Senate seat — both firsts for Native women — as Democrats swept races across the country ¹.

In New Mexico, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was elected governor, making her the first Native American woman elected to lead a U.S. state ¹. She defeated Republican Gregg Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho ¹.

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In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan became the first Native American woman senator ¹. She defeated Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster and conservative commentator ¹.

Haaland, a citizen of Laguna Pueblo, was already the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary ¹. She led the Democratic Party of New Mexico starting in 2015, became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018, and served as Interior secretary from 2021 until January 2025 ¹.

From Channel GOPPeggy Flanagan wins Minnesota's Senate seatPeggy Flanagan · 151 plays · captioned, with the source named

On the trail, Haaland spoke about raising her daughter alone, selling homemade salsa and relying at times on food stamps ¹.

My story is a lot like many New Mexicans — humble beginnings.

Haaland ran on the cost of living, protecting New Mexico's Universal Child Care program and overhauling its child welfare system ¹. She also blamed President Trump for cuts to federal safety net programs, and has promised an executive order on day one to pause construction of new large-scale data centers until the state Legislature passes guardrails ¹.

Flanagan, an enrolled member of White Earth Nation, got her start as an organizer, then served on the Minneapolis School Board and led the Children's Defense Fund Minnesota ¹. She was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2015 and has been lieutenant governor since 2019, where she has helped reshape Minnesota's relationship with the state's 11 tribal nations ¹.

Raised by a single mother in Section 8 housing, Flanagan had childhood asthma that kept her in and out of hospitals, and she has been an outspoken supporter of Medicaid, saying that it "saved [her] life" ¹. She ran as a progressive, backing "Medicare for All" and national paid family and medical leave ¹.

Minnesota, you just beat Donald Trump again.

The National Congress of American Indians, the country's oldest and largest association of tribal governments, called the wins historic milestones for Indian Country ¹. Native American women make up approximately 1% of the U.S. population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, but have long been underrepresented in elected office ¹.

Larry Wright Jr., the group's executive director, said in a statement to CBS News that he hopes the representation translates into "meaningful progress," in particular protecting tribal lands and honoring treaty obligations between the U.S. government and tribal nations ¹.

A third Native American woman could soon join them: In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola, who is Yup'ik, is in a Senate race with incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan that remains a toss-up, according to CBS News estimates, and the outcome may not be decided until ranked-choice tabulation later this month ¹.

The two wins put Native women in a governor's mansion and a Senate seat at the same time, after a campaign in which both candidates talked openly about food stamps, Section 8 housing and Medicaid ¹.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 2015Haaland became the first Native American woman to chair a state political party when she was elected to lead the Democratic Party of New Mexico ¹.
2. Jan 1, 2018Haaland became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, alongside Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas, who was reelected Tuesday ¹.
3. Jan 1, 2021Haaland began serving as former President Joe Biden's Interior secretary, a post she held until January 2025 ¹.
4. Nov 3, 2026Haaland was elected governor of New Mexico and Flanagan was elected to the Senate from Minnesota, both firsts for Native women ¹.

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<h2>Deb Haaland becomes first Native American woman elected governor</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/deb-haaland-becomes-first-native-american-woman-elected-governor">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.</em></p> <p>Two Native American women made history in Tuesday&#39;s midterm elections, winning a governorship and a Senate seat — both firsts for Native women — as Democrats swept races across the country .</p> <p>In New Mexico, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was elected governor, making her the first Native American woman elected to lead a U.S. state . She defeated Republican Gregg Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho .</p> <p>In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan became the first Native American woman senator . She defeated Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster and conservative commentator .</p> <p>Haaland, a citizen of Laguna Pueblo, was already the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary . She led the Democratic Party of New Mexico starting in 2015, became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress in 2018, and served as Interior secretary from 2021 until January 2025 .</p> <p>On the trail, Haaland spoke about raising her daughter alone, selling homemade salsa and relying at times on food stamps .</p> <blockquote><p>My story is a lot like many New Mexicans — humble beginnings.</p><p>&mdash; Deb Haaland, governor-elect of New Mexico, Democrat</p></blockquote> <p>Haaland ran on the cost of living, protecting New Mexico&#39;s Universal Child Care program and overhauling its child welfare system . She also blamed President Trump for cuts to federal safety net programs, and has promised an executive order on day one to pause construction of new large-scale data centers until the state Legislature passes guardrails .</p> <p>Flanagan, an enrolled member of White Earth Nation, got her start as an organizer, then served on the Minneapolis School Board and led the Children&#39;s Defense Fund Minnesota . She was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2015 and has been lieutenant governor since 2019, where she has helped reshape Minnesota&#39;s relationship with the state&#39;s 11 tribal nations .</p> <p>Raised by a single mother in Section 8 housing, Flanagan had childhood asthma that kept her in and out of hospitals, and she has been an outspoken supporter of Medicaid, saying that it &quot;saved [her] life&quot; . She ran as a progressive, backing &quot;Medicare for All&quot; and national paid family and medical leave .</p> <blockquote><p>Minnesota, you just beat Donald Trump again.</p><p>&mdash; Peggy Flanagan, senator-elect of Minnesota, Democrat</p></blockquote> <p>The National Congress of American Indians, the country&#39;s oldest and largest association of tribal governments, called the wins historic milestones for Indian Country . Native American women make up approximately 1% of the U.S. population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, but have long been underrepresented in elected office .</p> <p>Larry Wright Jr., the group&#39;s executive director, said in a statement to CBS News that he hopes the representation translates into &quot;meaningful progress,&quot; in particular protecting tribal lands and honoring treaty obligations between the U.S. government and tribal nations .</p> <p>A third Native American woman could soon join them: In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola, who is Yup&#39;ik, is in a Senate race with incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan that remains a toss-up, according to CBS News estimates, and the outcome may not be decided until ranked-choice tabulation later this month .</p> <p>The two wins put Native women in a governor&#39;s mansion and a Senate seat at the same time, after a campaign in which both candidates talked openly about food stamps, Section 8 housing and Medicaid .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/deb-haaland-becomes-first-native-american-woman-elected-governor">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/deb-haaland-becomes-first-native-american-woman-elected-governor.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. CBS News, “2 Native American women make history in midterm election” (2026-11-05). cbsnews.com/news/deb-haaland-peggy-flanagan-native-american-
2. ABC News, “These candidates made history in the 2026 midterm elections - ABC News” (2026-11-04). abcnews.com/Politics/candidates-made-history-2026-midterm-el

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