Haaland In Damage Control; Heinrich Basking As Pair Dominate Future Guv Talk

Sec. Haaland

Deb Haaland is in damage control mode and Martin Heinrich is stepping up his PR game as the well-known pair continue to be touted as possible candidates for the far off 2026 Dem Guv nomination. 

Heinrich has brushed off such speculation but has not shot it down. Surprisingly, no reporter has asked Haaland if she is entertaining a run, even though numerous associates of the former ABQ congresswoman have confirmed to us that she is interested.

While Heinrich is waltzing to his Senate re-election with still no announced Republican opponent, Sec. of Interior Haaland has suffered political damage for some of her decisions with the important progressive wing of the state Democratic Party of which she has long been a darling. 

And the nation's first Native American interior chief is also taking flack from her own, witnessed by the protest at the Four Corners by Navajo's upset over Haaland's decision to expand the area of a drilling moratorium around historic Chaco Canyon park. 

Media posts showed protesters yelling “Go Home!” (at Haaland) as some held signs that read no trespassing on allottee land. 

Its been one thing after another for the Secretary:

What gets conserved and how is at the root of a few thorny projects Haaland must navigate, from the Willow project to a drilling moratorium around. . .Chaco Canyon, and now protests by Native American tribes over a proposed lithium mine in Nevada. “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all for any of these things,” she said. “We have to take each one individually and find the best solution that we can.” Native American tribes are not always pleased with the outcome, she acknowledged. “Every tribe, I think, is different. Their opportunities are different. Their lifestyles are different and it’s up to us to make sure that we get them to the table to tell us what’s important to them,” she said. “... And we do our best, as I said, to balance whatever the project is — using the science, using the law.”

Haaland explained herself at an in-person interview with the AP set at her ABQ home--not in DC. That matters because even though the story went national clearly New Mexico and her political future is on her mind.

Sidebar: Native American tribes, especially those with gambling, have been important to Haaland's past political fundraising.

HEINRICH BASKING

Heinrich and Landrieu in ABQ

Meanwhile Heinrich, who will raise millions for his re-election and could use the leftovers for any Guv run, was all smiles and empathy as Biden senior adviser and infrastructure czar Mitch Landrieu toured with him last week.

Handing out money for better internet, more electrification and weatherizing homes is not going to make any enemies. The visit showcased Heinrich as well as Landrieu whose boss will be on the same ticket with Heinrich next year when they seek re-election. 

Heinrich:

One of the biggest places where we can move the needle on pollution is what we do in our homes and businesses and buildings. We’re going to be able to take this incredible model and supercharge it with the money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act

Yep. Quite the easy lay up compared to Haaland's woes. But the worm will be turning round and round with these two in the years ahead. 

The bottom line? Haaland and Heinrich are sucking up a lot of the oxygen in the room. Even though that '26 primary is nearly three years away, unless something extraordinary happens a safe bet is that one of them will be the next Dem nominee for Governor and in turn probably the next Governor. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023