Deb Haaland Puts 35 Years of Sobriety at the Center of New Mexico Governor Bid

"It clouds your mind," Deb Haaland recalls, reflecting on the years she struggled with alcohol. "They say that, after the first drink, you lose your judgment." Now a former congresswoman and cabinet secretary, Haaland is making her 35 years of sobriety a central theme of her campaign to become New Mexico's next governor.

From Personal Recovery to Public Policy

Haaland developed a drinking problem after high school and was twice arrested for driving under the influence. In her twenties she chose sobriety, entered an inpatient treatment program and committed to long-term recovery through meetings and therapy. She credits that support with helping her rebuild her life and go on to historic public service: elected to Congress in 2019 as one of the first two Native American women in the House, and serving as the first Native American cabinet secretary as Secretary of the Interior from 2021 to 2025.

"I recognised that I wanted to live a sober life and so I went on that journey and worked on myself for quite a while. It's a lot of hard work to pay attention to yourself," Haaland said.

Campaign Focus and Messaging

Haaland's Democratic campaign has launched a statewide six-figure broadcast and digital ad buy that ties her lived experience to New Mexico's broader substance-use crisis, including the deadly impact of fentanyl in rural and urban communities. Her message reframes addiction as a public-health issue rather than a moral failing and pushes for expanded access to treatment and reduced stigma.

Policy Proposals

Key elements of Haaland's platform include:

• Forcing insurers to cover comprehensive addiction treatment.
• Creating a state Office of Community Safety to deploy behavioural-health specialists to non-criminal emergency calls, allowing police to focus on violent crime and dismantling drug-trafficking operations.
• Investing in long-term residential care, job support and housing for people in recovery.

Accountability and System Rebuilding

Haaland criticises the previous Republican administration of Gov. Susana Martinez for actions that she says weakened local behavioural-health networks by pursuing fraud allegations against providers — allegations that were later cleared by the attorney general, Haaland says — and argues the system has taken years to rebuild.

Campaign Voices and Advertising

The campaign ad highlights personal stories and local experts. It features Jorge, a father who says he is "one year and one month sober," describing how community support helped him recover. A behavioural-health psychologist named David outlines Haaland's plans for insurance reform and tougher actions against traffickers. The spot ends with Jorge saying, "With Deb, I have hope."

On the Trail

Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe who grew up in a military family, has visited long-term residential programs such as Grand Summit in Albuquerque, which provides housing, job assistance and financial support for people in recovery. On one visit she invited program residents to vote with her, saying they felt empowered and part of something larger.

Federal Challenges and Other Issues

Haaland voiced concern about planned federal Medicaid changes scheduled to take effect on 1 January that could reduce addiction-treatment coverage for vulnerable New Mexicans; the state has established a Medicaid trust fund intended to help offset potential losses. She also condemned recent ICE raids in New Mexico as "untenable," "cruel," and "ruthless," citing an incident in which an individual was detained in front of his child outside a medical clinic.

Haaland is running as the Democratic nominee against Republican Gregg Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho. Beyond health policy, she links voter frustration to economic pressures such as tariffs and rising fuel costs that particularly burden rural residents who often commute long distances for work.

"I look at this as a public health issue," Haaland told reporters. "We want to make sure that this is looked at as a public health issue, that we move some behavioural health dollars to this area so that people can get the help they need."