Deb Haaland lands endorsement of Tom Udall in NM gubernatorial primary race

SANTA FE — Tom Udall has kept a low public profile since returning to New Mexico earlier this year from a three-plus-year stint as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand under former President Joe Biden.

But the former U.S. senator made a splash in New Mexico’s 2026 race for governor on Thursday by endorsing Deb Haaland in a hard-fought primary.

Udall said he has never previously endorsed a candidate in a contested Democratic gubernatorial primary race but said he decided to do so due to the high stakes of next year’s election cycle.

“Deb is a fighter that has the compassion, the toughness, the vision, and the experience we need to lead our state and stand up against Donald Trump,” Udall said in a statement.

The backing of Udall is the latest endorsement in the race between Haaland and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima is also seeking the Democratic nomination for next year’s gubernatorial race.

Among other endorsements, Haaland and Bregman have vied for the official support of tribal groups in New Mexico, with both candidates landing endorsements from different Native American pueblos and nations so far.

While political pundits have questioned the impact of endorsements on voters’ decisions, Udall’s endorsement could carry weight among some registered Democrats.

A former New Mexico attorney general who comes from a well-known political family, Udall was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008 and won re-election in 2014.

Udall did not run for a third term in 2020, saying he was seeking new ways to serve New Mexico and the country. His decision paved the way for then-U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., to win election to the U.S. Senate by defeating Republican Mark Ronchetti in that year’s race.

Haaland and Udall were both members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation from 2019 through 2020, after Haaland was elected to represent an Albuquerque-based U.S. House seat.

Haaland was then appointed as U.S. Interior secretary by Biden, becoming the first-ever Native American Cabinet secretary. She remained in that post until stepping down in January when Trump took office.

In a statement, Haaland cited her past work with Udall on issues such as conservation initiatives and infrastructure projects.

“As our state is facing many challenges, I’m honored to have Senator Udall’s trust as I run to lead the state as governor, and continue my record changing the system so every New Mexican has an opportunity to thrive,” Haaland said.

The primary election for governor and other statewide offices is set for June 2, with the general election taking place in November.

The race for governor is an open one, since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is barred under the state Constitution from seeking a third consecutive term in office.