Native American congressional candidate vows to represent rural areas that lack running water and electricity

A Native American congressional candidate in New Mexico said on Thursday that she hopes to address the underrepresented rural areas that still lack electricity and running water if she’s elected to Congress. 

“There are a lot of issues with respect to the environment, and education, there are challenges that happen when you live in rural communities and tribal communities that perhaps aren’t represented as they could be,” Deb Haaland, who is running in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, told Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball and Buck Sexton on “Rising.” 

{mosads}”There are still communities in New Mexico, for example, that don’t have electricity or running water. So I think infrastructure is a huge issue for Indian country and some rural communities across the country,” she continued. 

Haaland won her party’s primary last month in her bid to become the first-ever Native American woman to serve in Congress.

She is one of four indigenous women running for Congress. 

There are currently two Native Americans serving in Congress. Both lawmakers are men. 

Haaland volunteered on former President Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign before working as the chairwoman of the Democratic Party in New Mexico. 

Haaland launched a bid for lieutenant governor in 2014 but lost the race. 

— Julia Manchester