New Mexico’s U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich will be one of the few Democrats to support Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to succeed Kristi Noem as President Trump’s homeland security secretary.
In a statement shared with NM Political Report over the weekend, Heinrich said he has a good working relationship with Mullin and hopes to establish a relationship with DHS that eluded him during Trump’s first or current term:
“This is going to surprise some people, but I consider Markwayne Mullin a friend. We have a very honest and constructive working relationship. We have authored legislation together, such as the Tribal Buffalo Management Act, and we crafted the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill together this year. We often disagree and when we do, we work to find whatever common ground we share.
“I have also seen first-hand that Markwayne is not someone who can simply be bullied into changing his views, and I look forward to having a Secretary who doesn’t take their orders from Stephen Miller.
“For five years, under this and the previous Trump Administration, I have lacked any constructive relationship with the Secretary of Homeland Security. This is despite my state being home to hundreds of TSA, CBP and Border Patrol constituents and many miles of the U.S./Mexico border. I want someone who recognizes the necessity of judicial warrants, as he has. I would like a Secretary who I can call and have a constructive conversation with about my state and the unique terrain that exists in the southwest and the proper mix of structure, technology and personnel necessary to effectively secure our border.
“For these reasons, I will vote to confirm Markwayne Mullin to be Secretary of Homeland Security.”
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Mar. 22, 2026
Heinrich was a regular and forceful critic of Noem during her tenure, but he has broken with Democrats to support other high-level Trump nominees of importance to New Mexico.
In Jan. 2025, he voted in support of Doug Burgum’s nomination to lead the Interior Department, which oversees public lands and large portions of the national energy portfolio, for many of the same reasons. “I voted to confirm Governor Burgum’s nomination for Interior Secretary because I have found that a healthy relationship with the Secretary of Interior is critical to securing the best outcomes for the State of New Mexico.” Heinrich also voted in support Marco Rubio’s nomination as Secretary of State, Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy and Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
New Mexico’s other U.S. Senator, Ben Ray Luján, says he will vote against Mullin. “I take my responsibility to New Mexicans seriously. I will vote against Senator Mullin’s confirmation,” he said in a statement late last week.
Can’t wait for him to retire. What a fool!
Heinrich is letting his personal relationship cloud his vision.
Mullin is MAGA and Mullin could care less about our state. Mullin’s politics and Mullin the person has been compromised by the New Nazi Party.
Heinrich is wrong to vote for Mullin. He lost my vote.
What a traitor
This was a mistake, Senator. You should listen to the wisdom of your Party. I can’t think of a single Trump appointee that I would support, especially Markwayne.
Last time I waste a vote for you, Can’t trust your judgment
All good until the Prez/Miller instructs Mullin otherwise. Who’s your friend at this point.
Does Heinrich come up for a vote this year?
I have written to Sen. Heinrich and told him what he did was a betrayal to the NM voters . His lack of judgment regarding his friendship with Mullin indicates a serious lack of understanding of what he is voting for. I will never vote for him again and I am a lifelong Democrat
Senator Heinrich is not a very good “friend” to Markwayne Mullin for voting for him as the Secretary of Homeland Security. Mullin is not qualified to serve: he has no security background, no management experience for such a large agency, and he has already shown he will do what the Trump administration wants.
I am shocked that Martin Heinrich is not letting the Democrats bully him like Ben Ray Lujan does. I give him a lot of credit for that. Ben Ray Lujan seems to be led by the nose by the Democrat elites… It’s pretty Sickening actually . It makes Ben Ray look wimpy and ineffective…. I guess you could say he has no huevos.
so very disappointed.
Just lost my support. Hope he and his buddy Mullin have a great life together rotting in maga hell.