Democratic candidate for Governor, New Mexico
On your ballot Governor, New Mexico (certified list (opens in a new tab), verified October 9, 2026)
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Deb Haaland And Stephanie Garcia Richard has 15 statements on data centers on the record.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
What they said
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Haaland noted that while the majority of New Mexicans she speaks with are not in favor of nuclear power, developers have increasingly proposed building small nuclear reactors on site to power data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 28, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- ictnews.org (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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Deb Haaland, candidate in the New Mexico governor's race and former Biden Interior Secretary, pledged to create a moratorium on day one statewide for data centers and proposed guardrails for their development
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 24, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KJZZ (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Proposed guardrails include developers creating renewable energy infrastructure, using best available technology to protect water supply, and ensuring union jobs
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 20, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Santa Fe New Mexican (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland pledged to sign executive order issuing moratorium on new large scale data center projects on day one, requiring renewable energy and New Mexico job prioritization.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KOAT (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- KUNM (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Haaland released a list of eight protections for data center development including no backroom deals, no energy rate increases, water protections through closed loop systems, New Mexico jobs and union wages, renewable energy and zero carbon compliance, clean air and habitat protections, decommissioning bonds, and community accountability.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KOB 4 (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Haaland proposes data centers be required to develop own renewable energy infrastructure to prevent energy costs being passed to residents
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Native News Online (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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Haaland calls for closed loop cooling systems and best available technology to protect state water supply
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Native News Online (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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Haaland mentioned geothermal energy as a potential source to power new data centers in New Mexico.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Buffalo’s Fire (opens in a new tab), news outlet
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Haaland said required protections would include data centers building their own renewable energy infrastructure and having robust plans to prevent environmental harms
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KUNM (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Democratic nominee Deb Haaland said she would sign an executive order on day one of her governorship to pause new data centers until the state adopts stronger protections.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- KOB 4 (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Haaland's eight pronged proposal requires data centers to build their own renewable energy infrastructure, use closed loop cooling systems, require prevailing wage union jobs, meet renewable energy and zero carbon requirements, meet clean air standards, post decommissioning bonds, and comply with community accountability measures.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- lcsun-news.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet
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Deb Haaland, Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said she would sign an executive order establishing a data center moratorium on day one if elected
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Santa Fe New Mexican (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Source New Mexico (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- lcsun-news.com (opens in a new tab), national outlet
- KSFR (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- Native News Online (opens in a new tab), news outlet
- KSFR (opens in a new tab), local outlet
- The Eastern New Mexico News (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Haaland's proposed guardrails include: prohibiting non disclosure agreements; requiring developers to build renewable energy infrastructure; requiring closed loop cooling systems; prioritizing hiring New Mexicans for union jobs; mandating compliance with clean energy goals; adhering to high standards for light pollution and noise; and imposing decommission bonds
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 17, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Source New Mexico (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Haaland supports a moratorium on new data center development until strong guardrails are established in law and practice.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 16, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Searchlight New Mexico (opens in a new tab), local outlet
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Deb Haaland, Democratic nominee for governor, said during a primary debate in May that data centers do not have the best interests of the community at heart.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 16, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- Searchlight New Mexico (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Where we looked
The record last searched for Deb Haaland And Stephanie Garcia Richard's words on October 20, 2026.
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Others in this race
- Greggory D Hull And David M Gallegos Republican · Governor · the race page
Something missing?
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Data Center Record, "Public statements by Deb Haaland And Stephanie Garcia Richard", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/deb-haaland-and-stephanie-garcia-richard, last verified October 20, 2026.
Reusing this page
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.