[ [link removed] ]Deb Haaland for New Mexico[ [link removed] ]Deb Haaland for New Mexico





I went to 13 public schools before I graduated from Highland High School
in Albuquerque. And I can tell you that when school feels relevant — when
kids have real options — it makes all the difference.

That’s why I recently wrote an op-ed for the Albuquerque Journal, sharing
my education plan that will prepare New Mexico students for the world
outside of the classroom starting in middle school.

I hope you’ll take a few moments to read it and join us in improving
education and delivering results for our children and economy by
[ [link removed] ]chipping in what you can to support our campaign.

— Deb

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Education That Will Help Our Kids Succeed

Deb Haaland
October 12, 2025

I’m a proud product of public schools. Every New Mexican knows that our
children need a quality education for our state to thrive, but right now,
New Mexico ranks nationally in the bottom for education. During my travels
to all 33 counties in New Mexico, I heard from students, parents and
teachers who shared that many students lose interest in school because
they don’t feel prepared for the real world outside of their classrooms.
Employers and union members shared that there aren’t enough workers to
fill good-paying jobs.

I’m running for governor because, by working together with students,
parents, teachers, businesses and unions, we can build new solutions. It’s
why my plan for education starts with creating career and trades pathways
in middle school and carries students through graduation into living-wage,
high-demand careers right here in New Mexico.

If we want to move New Mexico’s schools and economy forward, we must
change what school means for our children. Middle school is where a
child’s curiosity soars or stalls, but New Mexicans’ eighth-grade test
scores in reading and math are lagging. As a kid, I loved the outdoors and
working with my hands. To keep kids engaged in reading and math, we can
couple them with hands-on courses that excite their imaginations and keep
them learning. Middle school students can explore robotics, learn the
basics of auto mechanics, get an introduction into the building trades, or
get a grasp on what it takes to run a hotel or restaurant to see what
interests them. When school feels relevant and when kids have options,
they become more interested in learning.

Coming into high school, a career pathways program can become a launchpad
— not just for a four-year college degree, but for high-paying, in-demand
jobs outside of higher education. By the time high schoolers graduate to
enter the workforce, they will have a diploma and actual credentials,
skills and possible banked work hours for fast tracking into
apprenticeships. Then our children will have every door open to jobs that
will lead New Mexico into the future, or if they choose, they can move
into a two- or four-year college degree with New Mexico’s Opportunity
Scholarship.

Our state is currently building renewable energy projects, massive
transmission lines, expanding high speed internet, and growing our film
and aerospace industries and national lab manufacturing. We are on the
verge of becoming a leader in innovation, green energy production and
massive amounts of investment into New Mexico. Standing in the way is the
reality that for every 10 workers who retire, only one is replacing them
in areas like construction. The solution is to invest in pathways to
careers now, so that our children in rural, Tribal and urban communities
can be part of our future and we can seize the opportunity to be that
leader.

It’s for these reasons that New Mexico-based businesses and unions care
deeply about our education system. This approach makes these partners a
key part of the solution. Pre-apprenticeship programs have proven to help
New Mexico train more pipefitters, electricians, plumbers, lineworkers,
film crews and more, while also preparing New Mexicans for quality, safe
and high-paying jobs. With our teachers guiding students, unions helping
develop the curriculum and employers hiring homegrown New Mexicans — we
create a brighter future for our children.

The payoff for this new approach? New Mexico will have a new workforce
ready to take the jobs that will help build up our state, students have
opportunities to break cycles of poverty, and we can become national
leaders leveraging the things that make our state great.

Establishing a middle-school-to-career trades pathways — based around
hands-on academic learning, backed by unions and connected to the jobs of
today and tomorrow — will lead our students to love learning and provide
them an opportunity for a good job in their communities. As your next
governor, I’m looking forward to working with teachers, families, unions,
businesses and education professionals to make this a cornerstone of my
plans to improve education in K-12 and deliver results for our children
and our economy.

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Thank you for reading!

Deb knows that jobs, healthcare, housing, education, and safety will help
New Mexico families prosper. She’s running for Governor because the fights
we face today are bigger than ever, and she’s ready to tackle them head-on
and make the system work for people the way it should.

But since Deb’s running a grassroots campaign, she’s counting on
supporters like you to pitch in $10, $20, $50, or whatever you can to help
her win.

[ [link removed] ]Will you pitch in any amount today to help elect Deb as New Mexico’s
next Governor?



[ [link removed] ]Donate $5 »











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