President-elect Joe Biden selected US Lawmaker Deb Haaland as his nominee for interior secretary on 17 December 2020. She has influence over the nation’s tribes for generations. If confirmed, she will become the first Native American cabinet secretary and one of the first Native Americans to serve in the US cabinet, a historical moment for America.
Haaland is vice-chairperson of the House Committee for Natural Resources. She previously worked as head of the Democratic Party in New Mexico, a tribal administrator, and an administrator for an organization providing adult services with developmental disabilities. She is also a member of Pueblo of Laguna.
The 60-year-old Deb Haaland is one of the first two Native American women elected to the United States Congress, the other being Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan.
Biden has vowed to appoint a diverse cabinet. Haaland's appointment is the latest example of that effort remaking on several occasions that he wants his administration to look like the United States.
Deb Haaland posted after appointment for interior secretary on Twitter:
"A voice like mine has never been a Cabinet secretary or at the head of the Department of Interior. Growing up in my mother’s Pueblo household made me fierce. I’ll be fierce for all of us, our planet, and all of our protected land. I am honored and ready to serve."
Let's discover more about Deb Haaland.
Deb Haaland Career And Net Worth
Deb Haaland is said to have an estimated net worth of $1 million throughout her career as an American politician. Haaland has helped to pass an estimated $1.77 billion COVID-19 relief package for New Mexico, according to haaland.house.gov.
During her early political career, Haaland volunteered a full-time election campaign for Barack Obama's presidential election in 2008. She was a native American vote manager for Diane Denish's gubernatorial campaign in 2010.
In 2012, Haaland served as the state's vote director for native Americans in Barack Obama's 2012 presidential re-election campaign. She served as native American Caucus Chair for the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) for one year (2012-13).
She ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2014 but lost to the Republican ticket of Governor Susana Martinez and Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez. In April 2015, Haaland was elected for two-year as chair-person for Democratic Party in Mexico.
During her period as chair-person for Democratic Party, she regained control of the New Mexico House of Representatives and the New Mexico Secretary of State's office.
On 17 December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he selected Deb Haaland as Secretary of Interior.
Deb Haaland Raised Daughter Somah As A Single Mother
Deb Haaland is a single mother, and her daughter named Somah Haaland, was born around 1995. She has yet to reveal the details of Somah's biological father.
Her stepfather raised Somah, and she feels pretty proud of it. Gushing about her step-dad support, she said:
"Here's to all of the dads that raised kids who aren't theirs. Family doesn't have to be biological and I'm way lucky to have been raised by this dude instead of my "real" father. Even though my dad is a hard ass (and was somehow surprised that I turned out to be gay which I don't understand every time I look at this picture??) I love him and I wouldn't be the foul-mouthed, tattooed broad that I am today without his support."
Deb Haaland's daughter Somah Haaland with her step-father (©: Instagram/Somah Haaland)
Deb feels pretty proud of her daughter Somah, who came out as gay.
When the US Supreme Court ruled to uphold marriage equality across the country in June 2015, Deb Haaland said about her daughter, 'thrilled to know that her future is free from barriers to marry whomever she wishes.'
Deb Haaland and her daughter Somah Haaland (©: Instagram/Somah Haaland)
Deb also released a one-minute long campaign video titled 'My Fierce Daughter Somah' on 29 September 2020, where Somah lent her voice to her mother’s campaign supporting LGBTQ rights.
As a single mother, Deb enlisted at her daughter's pre-school to afford an early childhood education. Like many New Mexicans, she had to rely on food stamps at times.
Deb Haaland's Family, Education
American politician Deb Haaland was born to father, Major J.D., and mother, Mary Tory, in Arizona on 2 December 1960. Haaland is a native American, and by religion, she is Catholic.
Haaland's father, J.D. Haaland, was a Norwegian American veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a Silver Star recipient for his courage to save six lives of marines during Vietnam in 1967. J.D. pass away with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetary in 2005.
Her mother, Mary Tory, served as a Navy veteran. She knows the sacrifices made by military families by moving to a different country; thus, she attended 13 other public schools.
Deb Haaland has three sisters and a brother. Her oldest sister, Denise, has raised a ranching family in New Mexico; her sister, Zoe, is a Registered Nurse and works with heart patients; and Deb’s brother, Judd, owns his own construction company.
Talking about her education, in 1994, Haaland received her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Mexico. She obtained her J.D. in Indian law at the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2006.
After completing her law education, she worked as the tribal administrator for the San Felipe Pueblo between 2013 and 2015.