When the people representing you don’t look like you, you represent yourself. At least that’s what Debra Haaland did. She became one of the first two Native American Congresswoman to ever be elected in 2018 during a game-changing midterm. Representing New Mexico’s first district, prominently including Albuquerque and many suburbs. Haaland has spent her time in Congress advocating on everything from Climate change to trans rights, and even to endorse Elizabeth Warren for President. 

This past Monday Haaland traveled to Rock Hill South Carolina with Team Warren to voice her support or leading female candidate, Elizabeth Warren. Her reasoning behind this: all of Warren’s plans. Warren is notorious for having plans to address almost every issue to grace voters’ radar. Aside from that, Haaland has made great strides in being a Congresswoman herself. As a former addict, food stamp user, and working-class member, Haaland knows the wants of the people she serves. 

“If you can go to a doctor when your sick and you can take your kids to a doctor when they’re sick, I think that alleviates a lot of issues for working families,” said Haaland. 

Going into the 2020 Presidential election, health care has become a top concern for many democratic voters. However, funding still stands as an issue. Haaland is someone who is on caucuses involving the military, as well as ones benefiting working-class people. They are often seen as financial trade-offs when health care funding comes up. Nonetheless Haaland still stands with the working-class people, as well as affordable health care. This is because Haaland has seen first hand what neglecting the working class can do to people.

“I know what people are talking about when they say they need to be on food stamps and they don’t want us to cut their food stamps,” said Haaland

A promise that Haaland has held true to since she took up her position in Congress is representing the people she once, and still does live amongst. She has helped pass a plan over the floor of the house known as the “Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act” which will guard a ten-mile radius around her ancestral homeland and prohibit any gas or oil drilling. As the climate worsens and tensions rise amongst politicians and those who feel helpless, more land loss is not what the U.S. needs right now. Haaland knows that. 

Haaland wants to make it clear that we simply need more people like her in Congress, non-white, non-male, and non-rich. She has given a TedTalk by the name of “Who Speaks For You?” emphasizing the importance of having someone who represents you and where you came from in government. 

“Frankly, it’d be hard to outwork me,” said Haaland.