From parade route to policy Haaland says she is listening across New Mexico

Posted by Donovan Quintero | Oct 9, 2025 | News |

SHIPROCK

Gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said returning to Shiprock felt like coming home. Her late mother, a U.S. Navy veteran and federal employee, once worked here, helping Native families through public service – a legacy Haaland said continues to guide her.

“My mom worked here in Shiprock years ago,” Haaland said Saturday. “Coming back brings a lot of memories. She always believed in helping people, and that’s what drives me too – making sure every family in New Mexico has someone fighting for them.”

Haaland spoke during the 112th Annual Northern Navajo Fair Parade, where she greeted residents and local leaders along the route. She said her campaign is built on listening directly to New Mexicans – from tribal communities and small towns to cities – to understand their everyday challenges.

“I’ve spent months visiting every county in New Mexico,” she said. “We’ve been driving across the state – from small towns to tribal communities – to listen to people about what they’re facing right now. It’s about understanding what New Mexico needs in this moment.”

Haaland’s outreach has been one of the most extensive in the race. In the first six months, Deb Haaland has visited every county in the state and has driven more than 14,000 miles, meeting with healthcare professionals, teachers, students, doctors, and residents – to get a real sense of what communities are going through.

Haaland said she’s heard consistent themes in her conversations across the state – the rising cost of living, healthcare access, and the need for stronger support for teachers.

To read the full article, please see the Oct. 9, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.

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