US Representative for New Mexico's 1st district which includes most of Albuquerque and its surburbs. She was elected to that office in Nov. 2018. Deb Halaand is a Native American, member of the Laguna Pueblo people. She holds a JD from Univ. of New Mexico School of Law (2006) but she isn't a member of NM State Bar. Early political career: Earlier political career - New Mexico's vote director for Native Americans in Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign. - Ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2014. Her ticket, headed by then Atty General of NM Gary King, lost to the Republican ticket of Governor Susana Martinez. - Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in (2015-2017)