Ex-Democratic Representative Deb Haaland, most recently serving under the unfavorable Biden administration as the Secretary of Interior, made a rather surprising announcement on Tuesday, seeking office as the Governor of New Mexico. Victory would make her the first Native American woman to hold a governorship, if one could convince voters to ignore her disappointing tenure under Biden. She’s aiming to replace Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who herself is an ex-lawmaker.
In her campaign launch video, Haaland ambitiously promised lower living costs and affordable house rents. However, of all things, she seems to confuse New Mexico’s richness in tradition, spirit and natural resources with economic ease. Laundering an unfounded question to the residents: ‘Why can’t our families pay our bills?’ It was a subtlety laced promise of a fix. But, how can Haaland claim to fix problems that were generated and worsened by policies her own party, led by Biden, implemented?
Heinrich, for one, made himself scarce and decided not to vie for the spot as governor. His reasoning was both eloquent and politically convenient: ‘New Mexico needs a strong voice in Washington now more than ever.’ It seems he’d prefer to stay on the sidelines, distancing himself from the damage caused by the Biden administration. Somewhat smartly, he’s dodged the bullet that’s currently aimed squarely at Haaland.
As yet, no significant Republican candidate has ventured into the race, yet names of potential heavyweight contenders have begun to float around. These include former Representative Yvette Herrell and potential 2024 Senate candidate Nella Domenici. Their potential involvement could spark an interesting GOP narrative against the backdrop of the Biden administration’s blunders, particularly against the likes of Haaland.
Hoping to strike a chord with New Mexicans, Haaland’s video message focused on her personal woes. She illustrated her hardships of raising a child single-handedly, using food stamps to meet ends. In a rather bizarre attempt to resonate, she said, ‘I worked at the local bakery, sold my homemade salsa, cleaned at my child’s preschool to reduce the bill.’ Will these struggles convince voters to elect someone who carries the baggage of the failed Biden administration?
Before her stint in national politics, Haaland presided as the chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party. Her foray into the House came in 2018, not long after which she was pulled into the whirlwind Biden saga as the Secretary of Interior. The first Native American woman in Congress, Haaland chose to leave her budding career to join a regressive administration, thereby forfeiting her connection with the voters she vowed to represent.
Adding to the drama of democratic disruptions, Haaland is not the only one seeking to escape the Biden ship. Pete Buttigieg and Xavier Becerra, Pence’s and Biden’s former disciples, are said to be eyeing available political spots. It seems climbing down the ladder and being closer to constituents rather than serving in the ill-fated Biden administration is the new trend. But will this tactic of distancing oneself be enough to mend the damage done?
Amazingly, Kamala Harris has been hinted as a potential candidate for the California governorship. This may seem enticing to some, but considered in light of her lackluster record as Vice President, it’s quite far-fetched. After all, contemplating a governorship when she has failed to garner respect or make significant progress as Vice President doesn’t bode well for her political future.
This flurry of former Biden administration officials seeking new political pastures only demonstrates their desperation to detach from the administration’s failures. Politics is indeed a game of power, but such a hasty retreat doesn’t bode well for the Democratic Party as a whole.
The evident scramble among these veterans to isolate themselves from the Biden administration speaks volumes about their implicit recognition of Biden’s series of blunders. It only underscores their hunger for power, demonstrating their willingness to sidestep accountability for their hand in promoting and implementing failed policies.
In the long run, the flurry of desertions from the Biden administration will only play into the hands of Republicans. If anything, it amplifies the administration’s blunders while undermining the effectiveness of the Biden-Harris duo.
The notion of ‘continuous public service’ seems to be recklessly cast aside by these Biden cabinet members seeking fresh political start. The question remains: Can leaders who willingly elected to serve under a failing administration be trusted to effectively serve their constituents?
The bid of these political powerhouses seems poised to backfire, given their association with the failing Biden administration. While they may hope to escape the harsh realities of their political choices, their close association with Biden and Harris may prove challenging to evade.