Tom Udall

Tom Udall
United States Senator from New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2009 Serving with Jeff Bingaman
Preceded by	Pete Domenici
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Bill Redmond
Succeeded by	Ben R. Luján
28th New Mexico Attorney General
In office 1991–1999
Preceded by	Harold Stratton
Succeeded by	Patricia Madrid
Personal details
Born	Thomas Stewart Udall May 18, 1948 (1948-05-18) Tucson, Arizona
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jill Cooper
Residence	Santa Fe, New Mexico
Alma mater	Prescott College (pre-law) Cambridge University (LL.B.) University of New Mexico (J.D.)
Profession	Attorney
Religion	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)
Website	Senator Tom Udall

Thomas Stewart "Tom" Udall (born May 18, 1948) is the junior United States Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. He had represented New Mexico's 3rd congressional district 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, defeating Congressman Steve Pearce. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Jeff Bingaman retires from the Senate in January 2013.

Early life and family

Udall was born in Tucson, Arizona, the son of Ermalee Lenora (née Webb) and Stewart Udall, who was Secretary of the Interior from 1961 to 1969. His family can be traced to territorial New Mexico. He attended Prescott College, graduating with a pre-law degree in 1970. In 1975, he graduated from Cambridge University in England with a Bachelor of Law degree. That fall, he enrolled in the University of New Mexico School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1977. After graduating, Udall was Law Clerk to Chief Judge Oliver Seth of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. His legal career then included appointments as Assistant US Attorney in the criminal division and Chief Counsel to the Department of Health and Environment. A partnership followed in the Miller Law Firm.

Udall is the nephew of Arizona Congressman Morris Udall, and first cousin of senior Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall, double second cousin of former Oregon U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, and second cousin of Utah U.S. Senator Mike Lee. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Early political career

In 1982, Udall ran for Congress in the newly-created 3rd District, but lost the Democratic primary to Bill Richardson. He ran for Congress again in the 1st District for the seat left open by retiring 20-year incumbent Manuel Lujan, but narrowly lost to Bernalillo County District Attorney Steven Schiff.

From 1991 to 1999 he served as Attorney General of New Mexico.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

Udall ran for Congress again in 1998 in the 3rd District against Bill Redmond, who had been elected in a 1997 special election to replace Richardson. Redmond was a conservative Republican representing a heavily Democratic district, and the 3rd's partisan tilt was enough for Udall to defeat Redmond with 53 percent of the vote to Redmond's 43 percent. Udall never faced another close contest, and was reelected four times, including a completely unopposed run in 2002. He won a fifth term in the 2006 midterm elections he was reelected with 75 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Ron Dolin.

Tenure

As a U.S. Representative, Tom Udall belonged to the centrist New Democrat Coalition and the more liberal Congressional Progressive Caucus. He was also a member of the United States House Peak Oil Caucus.

Committee assignments

• United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
• Co-Vice Chair of the House Native American Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus (Co-Chair)

U.S. Senate

2008 election

See also: United States Senate election in New Mexico, 2008

In November 2007 he announced he would give up his congressional seat to run in the 2008 Senate election in New Mexico to replace Pete Domenici, who was retiring. The only other Democrat in the race, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, dropped out in December, essentially handing the nomination to Udall. New Mexico's other two members of the House, 1st District Congresswoman Heather Wilson and 2nd District Congressman Steve Pearce, also gave up their seats to run in the Republican primary. Pearce won the Republican nomination, and lost to Udall in November 2008 elections. Democrat Ben R. Luján went on to win Udall's House seat.

While Udall was running for senate in New Mexico, his younger first cousin, congressman Mark Udall, ran for the Colorado Senate seat left open by the retirement of Wayne Allard. Their double second cousin, incumbent Gordon Smith of Oregon, also ran in a Senate election against Jeff Merkley. While Mark and Tom Udall are Democrats, Smith is a Republican.

Tom Udall won his Senate race with 61% of the vote.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion
  • Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
  • Subcommittee on Science and Space
  • Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
  • Subcommittee on Children's Health
  • Subcommittee on Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
• Committee on Rules and Administration
• Committee on Indian Affairs
• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
• International Narcotics Control Caucus
• Impeachment Trial Committee on the Articles against Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus
• House Native American Caucus (Co-Vice Chair)
• International Conservation Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Rural Caucus
• Sportsmen's Caucus

See also

• Udall family (political family)
• Lee-Hamblin family

External links

• Senator Tom Udall official U.S. Senate site
• Udall For Us All official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Profile at SourceWatch

Legal offices
Preceded by Harold Stratton	Attorney General of New Mexico 1991–1999	Succeeded by Patricia A. Madrid
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Bill Redmond	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd congressional district 1999-2009	Succeeded by Ben R. Luján
United States Senate
Preceded by Pete Dominici	United States Senator (Class 2) from New Mexico January 3, 2009 – present Served alongside: Jeff Bingaman	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Mark Udall D-Colorado	United States Senators by seniority 72nd	Succeeded by Mike Johanns R-Nebraska
Party political offices
Preceded by Gloria Tristani 2002	Democratic Party nominee for United States Senator (class 2) from New Mexico 2008	Succeeded by Most recent