Santa Fe, New Mexico - Democrat Deb Haaland has been elected governor of New Mexico, becoming the first Indigenous woman to hold the position in US history, according to projections.

Haaland defeated Republican Gregg Hull in the southwestern state, according to NBC News and ABC. Her victory had been predicted by opinion polls.

Born in 1960, Haaland previously served as US interior secretary under then-President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025, becoming the first Indigenous woman to hold a Cabinet position in the US.

"Thank you, New Mexico! It is the honor of my lifetime to be elected your 33rd Governor.," Haaland wrote on social media after her midterm win.

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"Tonight, you made history. You chose a future where New Mexico comes first, where working families have a chance to get ahead, and where every New Mexican has a voice," she continued.

"I know the challenges ahead are real. But I also know that New Mexicans have never backed down from a fight – and we are going to tackle these challenges together."

"Whether you voted for me or not, I will always be your Governor, too. Because this campaign was about all of us, and the future we deserve."

Haaland will take over from New Mexico's current Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is in her second and final term in office.