Deb Haaland and Peggy Flanagan won historic races in New Mexico and Minnesota
Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was elected governor of New Mexico, while Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan won a U.S. Senate seat in Tuesday’s midterms. They became the first Native American women elected governor of a U.S. state and to the Senate, respectively, marking milestones in Indigenous representation.
More context
Deb Haaland was elected governor of New Mexico and Peggy Flanagan won Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race in Tuesday’s midterm elections, making them the first Native American women elected to those offices. Former Interior Secretary Haaland, a citizen of Laguna Pueblo, defeated Republican Gregg Hull, former mayor of Rio Rancho. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Flanagan, an enrolled member of White Earth Nation, defeated Republican Michele Tafoya, a former sports broadcaster and conservative commentator. Haaland campaigned on affordability, protecting New Mexico’s Universal Child Care program and overhauling its child welfare system. She promised an executive order to pause construction of new large-scale data centers until the state Legislature passes guardrails. Flanagan emphasized tribal sovereignty, federal treaty and trust responsibilities to tribal nations, and the rising cost of living; she also backed Medicare for All.
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Reporting
- CBS News — 2 Native American women make history in 2026 midterm election - CBS News
- CBC News — Native American women make history in U.S. midterm elections | CBC News
- Demokratis — Native American Women Win Senate Seat and Governorship
- Daily Sabah — Wind of change: US midterm elections deliver wave of historic firsts | Daily Sabah
Verifier’s note
CBS News, CBC News, and Daily Sabah directly report both victories and the historic firsts; Demokratis also states the combined claim but appears derivative. USA Today describes the outcomes as projected before election night, while KTIV/AP, PBS News, and The Guardian report on Haaland alone.