Clash At The Canyon Has Political Tongues Wagging Over Haaland's Possible Guv Bid; Chaco PR Gaffe Gives Heinrich Backers Hope

(DeBonis for Source NM)

The school of thought that the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial nomination is Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland's to lose took a hit this weekend. 

Haaland ran head first into a PR gaffe that had political tongues wagging, while also noting that the mishap comes on the heels of criticism over Haaland's sometimes shaky appearances before congressional committees. 

On the PR front Haaland was embarrassed Sunday when a "celebration" of her decision establishing a 10 mile buffer prohibiting oil and gas development around Chaco Culture National Historical Park had to be called off. Navajo land owners upset with the decision blocked the road and forced Haaland to retreat to the Bureau of Indian Affairs office in ABQ to praise her decision. 

Talk about pushback. That's a literal example. 

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren was pointed in his criticism of the nation's first Native American Interior Secretary: 

The financial and economic losses that are impacting many Navajo families as a result of the secretary’s recent land withdrawal are nothing to celebrate. As leaders of the Navajo Nation, we support the Navajo allottees who oppose the withdrawal of these public lands.

The blow to the Secretary's prestige was widely reported and a reminder that a statewide campaign, possibly against Sen. Martin Heinrich for the '26 Dem Guv nomination, would also be filled with pitfalls. 

Solid judgment would need to be brought to bear--judgment that would also be required as the state's chief executive. 

Similarly, Haaland's mediocre performances at congressional hearings that Republicans have come to relish raise questions about her preparation and strength as a future Governor that her foes will exploit if she runs in '26.

If elected Haaland would be the first Native American Governor in state history. With identity politics now a cornerstone of the Democratic Party, that is seen as putting her in the driver's seat for the nomination. 

Even though she was a Republican, Susana Martinez won in 2010 largely because she would become the first female Hispanic Governor in the nation, a theme that attracted many Dem Hispanic voters. 

ENVIRO GLEE

Sec. Haaland

The Chaco decision was greeted with glee by the enviros who took out ads to thank Haaland and Biden. But only two months earlier the shoe was on the other foot for the Secretary as enviros condemned the decision by her and the Biden administration approving Willow, an $8 billion drilling plan by ConocoPhillips on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope. Heinrich, also an enviro favorite, took advantage and scored points by directly criticizing Haaland for that decision.

But the NM DC delegation at large is taking criticism for positioning Chaco so high on the agenda even as the Navajos pleaded with them for a compromise. Here's Senior Alligator analysis:

Chaco is a case of making a mountain out of a a molehill and stepping in the molehill. When Haaland was part of the delegation as the ABQ US Representative the delegation made this a huge issue. But there are bigger issues like jobs and education. Instead they pushed this to the pinnacle of environmental activism, pleasing the enviros but eventually upsetting the Navajos. Senators Bingaman and Domenici would have dome this more quietly. 

But then Jeff and Pete were serving at a time when enviro campaign money was nothing like it is today, and quiet leadership was much more in vogue.  

GOING DEEPER

Haaland's policy clash with her fellow indigenous citizens is dismissed by Haaland backers as the voices of a few landowners but the hierarchy of the Navajo Nation has weighed in and that will garner notice among tribes across the nation that are important fundraising sources for Haaland. 

Heinrich has every reason to carefully weigh a potentially hazardous run for Governor, assuming he secures an easy Senate reelection bid next year, but if Haaland continues to err the senior senator will only be encouraged. 

His supporters note that he has survived several grueling campaigns (2008 for Congress and '12 for US Senate in particular) and is battle-scarred. He has taken ribbing for his endorsements of dozens of candidates, including in his own party's primary elections, but has generally kept his nose clean in the major gaffe department. 

Haaland has had one tough race--for the '18 Democratic nomination for the ABQ congressional seat. She also won the '14 Dem nomination for lieutenant governor and is a former chair of the NM Dem Party. Her status as Secretary of Interior is heavyweight stuff and gives her room for error. Sunday at Chaco she used up some of that room. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023