Ben R. Lujan
Encyclopedia
Ben Ray Luján is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party
. The district is based in Santa Fe
, the state capital, and includes most of the northern portion of the state.
, but currently lives near Nambé, New Mexico. His father is the speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives
and his mother is a retired administrator with the Pojoaque Valley school system. He has Lujan family members on both sides of his family and is a distant cousin on his mother's side to Manuel Lujan, Jr., former Republican congressman and Secretary of the Interior
. Manuel Lujan's sister was his second grade teacher.
After graduating from Pojoaque Valley High School
, he attended the University of New Mexico
and later received a degree from New Mexico Highlands University
. Luján has held several public service positions. He was the Deputy State Treasurer and the Director of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer for the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department prior to his election to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
Luján is a strong supporter of renewable energy
. He helped to increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard in New Mexico that requires utilities to use 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Luján also required utilities to diversify their renewable use to include solar, wind and biomass.
Luján joined regulators in California
, Oregon
, and Washington to sign the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change to implement regional solutions to global warming. While at the PRC, Luján helped develop legislation to prohibit insurance companies from denying individuals coverage for preexisting conditions.
In 2008, Luján ran to succeed U.S. Rep.
Tom Udall
in New Mexico's 3rd congressional district
. Udall gave up the seat to make what would be a successful bid for the United States Senate
.
On June 3, 2008, Luján won the Democratic primary, defeating five other candidates. His closest competitor, developer Don Wiviott, received 26 percent to Luján's 42 percent. This victory was tantamount to election
in this heavily Democratic district.
Luján faced Republican Dan East and independent Carol Miller in the general election and won with 57% of the vote compared to East's 30% and Miller's 13%.
2010
Luján won re-election against Republican nominee Tom Mullins.
. In October 2009, Lujan gave a speech on the House floor calling for a public option to be included in the House health care bill saying “We need a public option - we must demand a public option.”
In June 2009, Lujan voted for an amendment that would require the Secretary of Defense
to present a plan including a complete exit strategy for Afghanistan by the end of the year; although, the amendment did not pass. In September 2009 Lujan wrote a letter urging the Obama administration not to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan. Lujan drew on conversations he had with U.S. General Stanley McChrystal
and Afghan president Hamid Karzai
, when he visited Afghanistan in August 2009, in the letter.
Lujan district contains 15 separate pueblo tribes as well as tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache
Nation and Navajo Nation
. In February 2009 Lujan introduced a series of five water accessibility bills that, along with improving access to water for the many communities in the district, would also give federal funds to Indian tribes. Along with Harry Teague
(D-NM) and Ann Kirkpatrick
(D-AZ) Lujan sponsored an amendment to the House health care bill that would extend the current Indian Health Care system until 2025.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. The district is based in Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, the state capital, and includes most of the northern portion of the state.
Early life, education, and early career
Ben Ray Luján was born in Santa Fe to Carmen and Ben LujánBen Lujan
Ben Lujan is an American politician. A Democrat, he is currently the Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives. He has served in the House since 1975 and as Speaker since 2001. His legislative district, the 46th, is composed mostly of Santa Fe....
, but currently lives near Nambé, New Mexico. His father is the speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives
New Mexico House of Representatives
The New Mexico House of Representatives is the lower house of the New Mexico State Legislature.There are 70 members of the House. Each member represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico.The Speaker of the House is Ben Luján .-Composition:...
and his mother is a retired administrator with the Pojoaque Valley school system. He has Lujan family members on both sides of his family and is a distant cousin on his mother's side to Manuel Lujan, Jr., former Republican congressman and Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
. Manuel Lujan's sister was his second grade teacher.
After graduating from Pojoaque Valley High School
Pojoaque Valley High School
Pojoaque Valley High School is the public high school in the town of Pojoaque, New Mexico. Its colors are kelly green & white. Their mascot is the Elk.-PVHS Athletics:Pojoaque Valley High School is a NMAA AAA school in District 2....
, he attended the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
and later received a degree from New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University is a public university located in Las Vegas, New Mexico.-History:The university was first established as New Mexico Normal School in 1893, with the prominent archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett serving as its first president...
. Luján has held several public service positions. He was the Deputy State Treasurer and the Director of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer for the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department prior to his election to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
Public Regulation Commission
Luján was elected to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) in November 2004. He represented PRC district 3 which encompasses northeastern, north central and central New Mexico. His served as chairman of the PRC in 2005, 2006 and 2007. His term on the commission ended at the end of 2008.Luján is a strong supporter of renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
. He helped to increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard in New Mexico that requires utilities to use 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Luján also required utilities to diversify their renewable use to include solar, wind and biomass.
Luján joined regulators in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, and Washington to sign the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change to implement regional solutions to global warming. While at the PRC, Luján helped develop legislation to prohibit insurance companies from denying individuals coverage for preexisting conditions.
Elections
2008In 2008, Luján ran to succeed U.S. Rep.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Tom Udall
Tom Udall
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Udall is the junior United States Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. He had represented as a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999. Udall was elected as the junior United States senator from New Mexico on November 4, 2008,...
in New Mexico's 3rd congressional district
New Mexico's 3rd congressional district
New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District serves the northern half of New Mexico, including the state's Capital, Santa Fe. The current Representative is Democrat Ben R...
. Udall gave up the seat to make what would be a successful bid for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
On June 3, 2008, Luján won the Democratic primary, defeating five other candidates. His closest competitor, developer Don Wiviott, received 26 percent to Luján's 42 percent. This victory was tantamount to election
Tantamount to election
"Tantamount to election" is a phrase to describe a situation in which one political party so dominates the demographics of a voting district, that the person winning the party nomination for a race will virtually be assured of winning the general election...
in this heavily Democratic district.
Luján faced Republican Dan East and independent Carol Miller in the general election and won with 57% of the vote compared to East's 30% and Miller's 13%.
2010
Luján won re-election against Republican nominee Tom Mullins.
Tenure
Lujan has been a strong proponent of health care reform, including a public optionPublic health insurance option
The public health insurance option is a proposed government-run health insurance agency which competes with other health insurance companies. It is not the same as Publicly-funded health care. Called the public insurance option or public option, for short, it was a proposed health insurance plan...
. In October 2009, Lujan gave a speech on the House floor calling for a public option to be included in the House health care bill saying “We need a public option - we must demand a public option.”
In June 2009, Lujan voted for an amendment that would require the Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
to present a plan including a complete exit strategy for Afghanistan by the end of the year; although, the amendment did not pass. In September 2009 Lujan wrote a letter urging the Obama administration not to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan. Lujan drew on conversations he had with U.S. General Stanley McChrystal
Stanley A. McChrystal
Stanley Allen McChrystal is a retired four-star general in the United States Army. His last assignment was as Commander, International Security Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan...
and Afghan president Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
, when he visited Afghanistan in August 2009, in the letter.
Lujan district contains 15 separate pueblo tribes as well as tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache
Jicarilla Apache
Jicarilla Apache refers to the members of the Jicarilla Apache Nation currently living in New Mexico and speaking a Southern Athabaskan language...
Nation and Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
. In February 2009 Lujan introduced a series of five water accessibility bills that, along with improving access to water for the many communities in the district, would also give federal funds to Indian tribes. Along with Harry Teague
Harry Teague
Harry Teague is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-NM) and Ann Kirkpatrick
Ann Kirkpatrick
Ann Kirkpatrick is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She earlier served in the Arizona House of Representatives. She was defeated by Republican Paul Gosar in the 2010 election...
(D-AZ) Lujan sponsored an amendment to the House health care bill that would extend the current Indian Health Care system until 2025.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Science and Technology
- Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation
- Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
External links
- Congressman Ben R. Lujan official U.S. House site
- Ben R. Luján for U.S. Congress official campaign site