Ben Ray Luján

2008

In 2008, Luján ran to succeed U.S. Representative 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.^{[citation needed]} On June 3, 2008, Luján won the Democratic primary, defeating five other candidates.^[15] His closest competitor, developer Don Wiviott, received 26 percent to Luján's 42 percent.^{[citation needed]}

Luján faced Republican Dan East and independent Carol Miller in the general election and won with 57% of the vote to East's 30% and Miller's 13%.^[16]

2010

Luján won reelection against Republican nominee Thomas E. Mullins with 56.99% of the vote.

2012

Luján won reelection against Republican nominee Jefferson Byrd with 63.12% of the vote.

2014

Luján won reelection against Byrd again, with 61.52% of the vote.^[17]

2016

Luján won reelection against Republican nominee Michael H. Romero with 62.42% of the vote.

2018

Luján won reelection against Republican nominee Jerald Steve McFall with 63.4% of the vote.

Energy policy

According to his campaign website, Luján has been active in environmental regulation.^{[21][better source needed]} He chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's Green Economy and Renewable Energy Task Force.^[21] Luján has initiated several pieces of legislation regarding renewable energy such as the SOLAR Act. He co-authored the Community College Energy Training Act of 2009. He also supports natural gas usage and the New Alternative Transportations to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2009.^[21] Luján has high ratings from interest groups such as Environment America and the Sierra Club.^[19]

Luján serves on the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force. He has introduced legislation to provide relief to communities and businesses impacted by PFAS/PFOA contamination in groundwater around Air Force bases in New Mexico and across the country.^[22]

In addition to supporting the Green New Deal, an economic stimulus package that aims to address climate change and economic inequality, Luján has developed legislation to put the United States on a path to net zero carbon emission and address climate change.^[23]

Education policy

Luján has been supported by the National Education Association.^[24] He supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act^{[21][better source needed]} and student loan reform. He cosponsored the STEM Education Coordination Act in an effort to produce more scientists and innovators in the United States.^[21]

Native American issues

Luján has supported increased funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service.^{[21][better source needed]} He opposed the Stop the War on Coal Act of 2012 and was in favor of preserving sacred Native American ground.^[25] Luján worked to create legislation enabling tribes to directly request disaster assistance from the president.^[26] Luján's district contains 15 separate Pueblo tribes as well as tribal lands of the Jicarilla Apache Nation and Navajo Nation.^[27] In February 2009, Luján 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), Luján sponsored an amendment to the House health care bill that would extend the current Indian Health Care system until 2025. Tribal governments were major donors to his 2012 reelection campaign.^[28]

2020

On April 1, 2019, Luján announced he was running to succeed retiring Senator Tom Udall in the 2020 election.^[5] On June 2, 2020, Luján won the Democratic primary unopposed. He defeated Republican nominee Mark Ronchetti in the general election 51.7% to 45.6%.^[31]

117th Congress (2021–2023)

Luján was sworn into the Senate on January 3, 2021. He was accompanied by the outgoing Senator, Tom Udall.^[32]

On January 6, 2021, Luján was participating in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. He called the attack a "siege" and "a direct attack on our nation's democracy."^[33] In the wake of the attack, Luján said he would vote to convict Trump "for inciting an insurrection."^[34]

Luján was absent from the Senate while recovering from a major stroke in early 2022.^[35]

Energy

In February 2021, Luján was one of seven Democratic senators to join Republicans in blocking a ban of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as "fracking".^[36]

Foreign policy

In January 2024, Luján voted for a resolution, proposed by Bernie Sanders, to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.^[37]

Immigration

In January 2026, after federal immigration agents fatally shot Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Luján announced he would vote against the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. He wrote, "with multiple deadly shootings of American citizens by federal agents in Minnesota and no accountability, I will not support an appropriations bill that funds DHS without real oversight, transparency, and consequences."^[38] Luján called for a full and independent investigation into Pretti's shooting and demanded the resignation or firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.^[39] His position aligned with fellow New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich, who separately introduced legislation to redirect ICE funding to local law enforcement agencies.^[40]