Ben Ray Luján has represented New Mexico in the United States Senate since January 2021. He previously served as U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s Third Congressional District and House Assistant Speaker in the 116th Congress.
Senator Luján sits on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Finance; the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; the Committee on Indian Affairs; and the Committee on the Budget.
Senator Luján grew up in Nambé, a small farming community north of Santa Fe, bordered by the Nambé and Pojoaque Pueblos. It was there that he learned New Mexico values, including hard work, dedication, and perseverance, from his family and community.
Since being elected to Congress in 2008, Senator Luján has championed efforts to expand access to quality health care and protect patients with pre-existing conditions, preserve our natural resources and sacred sites, build a clean energy economy, create good-paying jobs in New Mexico, and uplift the middle class.
Senator Luján has focused on spurring local economic growth through a number of legislative initiatives. Senator Luján’s legislation to help local entrepreneurs bring their ideas to the marketplace was signed into law, and he has written legislation that would leverage New Mexico’s labs to drive job creation while addressing tomorrow’s energy challenges.
Senator Luján has also focused on delivering justice for New Mexicans, leading the effort to strengthen the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program and championing legislation to support victims of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
Senator Luján has been a fierce advocate for environmental protection in New Mexico. He helped lead an effort during the Obama administration to establish national monument designations for the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area and the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, preserving some of New Mexico’s greatest treasures and tourism drivers. In addition, he passed this legislation in the House to protect the greater Chaco Canyon region from harmful oil and gas drilling and dangerous methane emissions, and he has since reintroduced the same legislation in the Senate.
In the United States Senate, Senator Luján is committed to building a stronger, more secure future for New Mexico. He’s working every day to expand opportunity, strengthen our communities, and champion the farmers, ranchers, workers, veterans, and families who make our state proud.
Senator Luján is one of only two Head Start graduates to ever serve in the United States Senate, and the first Hispanic to represent New Mexico in the chamber in more than 40 years.
Senator Luján is a long-time advocate for New Mexico’s acequias and traditional lands. He continually works to ensure funding for these cultural assets. He also supports rural farming and ranching by advancing legislation to help food-producing communities grow their local economies.
Throughout his time in Congress, Senator Luján has fought to increase New Mexicans’ access to quality health care, regardless of where they live or what they earn. He has had legislation signed into law to bolster the Children’s Health Insurance Program and strengthen Medicaid and Medicare. Committed to delivering for New Mexicans, Senator Luján has worked across the aisle to secure billions of dollars for New Mexico.
Senator Luján has been a champion for New Mexico working families. He’s fought to raise the minimum wage, close the gender pay gap, and expand broadband for rural communities. He has been an unwavering supporter of women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and continues to advance causes important to New Mexico families.
Whether it’s protecting families from rising costs, standing up for workers, or defending New Mexico’s values, Senator Luján is committed to ensuring all New Mexicans are heard, protected, and never left behind.
Before his election to Congress, Senator Luján served as the Chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. As a Commissioner, he worked with his colleagues to develop a renewable portfolio standard to increase clean energy production by New Mexico utilities. He also advocated for first responders, working to overhaul the New Mexico Fire Fund so that all distributions from the fund would go to improving fire services in New Mexico.
Prior to his service on the Public Regulation Commission, Senator Luján was the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department’s director of administrative services and chief financial officer.
Senator Luján earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University.
