Haaland Becomes First Native Woman Elected New Mexico Governor
Deb Haaland's election as governor came on the same night Peggy Flanagan won a U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota as the first Native woman elected to that office.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Native American
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Deb Haaland, a Laguna Pueblo congresswoman and former Interior Secretary, became the first Native American woman elected Governor of New Mexico. On the same election night, Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor of Minnesota and a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, became the first Native woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Minnesota.
Why it matters
Both wins mark firsts for Native women in top state-level and federal offices. Both politicians wore statement earrings made by Indigenous artists during their election night appearances, a choice meant to spotlight Indigenous craft.
Haaland and Flanagan each hold a historic first: Haaland as the first Native American woman elected New Mexico governor and Flanagan as the first Native woman elected to a Minnesota U.S. Senate seat. The Alaska Senate race, where Mary Peltola was leading, had not been finalized at publication.
The players
Deb Haaland
Laguna Pueblo congresswoman and former U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Joe Biden, now elected Governor of New Mexico.
Peggy Flanagan
Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota and member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, now elected to the U.S. Senate.
Pat Pruitt
Laguna and Chiricahua Apache artist based in New Mexico whose titanium dragonfly earrings Haaland wore on election night.
The details
Haaland and Flanagan both emerged to celebrate after race results were officially called on election evening. Both wore Indigenous-made statement earrings, with Haaland wearing titanium dragonfly earrings by Laguna and Chiricahua Apache artist Pat Pruitt and Flanagan wearing long dentalium shell earrings at a Saint Paul watch party.
Timeline
2015: The first version of Pruitt's dragonfly earrings debuted.
2021: Haaland wore a ribbon skirt at her swearing-in as Secretary of the Interior.
November 3, 2026: The 2026 midterm results were called and Haaland and Flanagan celebrated.
Culture Shift
Haaland's 2021 swearing-in as the first Native American Interior Secretary, marked by a traditional ribbon skirt, set a precedent for Indigenous women in top government roles. Her election as governor and Flanagan's Senate win extend that path into elected office.
New Mexico residents now have a Native American woman leading the state government, which may shape policy priorities on tribal affairs and Indigenous communities. Readers interested in Indigenous-made fashion and craft can seek out works by artists such as Pat Pruitt.
The takeaway
Election-night choices like Haaland's and Flanagan's earrings show how public figures can use their visibility to elevate Indigenous artists. Readers who want to support that work can look for Indigenous-made jewelry directly from the artists.
Further reading
Explore more Native American coverage to see how Indigenous leaders and artists are shaping public life.
Source note: This article includes information reported by British Vogue.
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