Sen.-elect Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.)

Date of birth: June 7, 1972
Residence: Nambé, N.M.
Occupation: Congressman
Education: B.B.A., New Mexico Highlands University
Family: single

Ben Ray Luján is a six-term congressman who took out Republican candidate Mark Ronchetti in the race to replace retiring Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.)

Luján has represented the state’s 3rd Congressional District for more than a decade and was chair of the House Democrats’ campaign arm for two terms. As assistant Speaker of the House this past cycle, Luján was arguably one of the most influential Latinos in the lower chamber.

He will join four Latinos already in the Senate, including Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).

Luján is a supporter of “Medicare for All” and the Green New Deal. He was endorsed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and President-elect Joe Biden.

He was born and raised in Nambé, N.M., in the outskirts of Santa Fe, where he still lives.

– J. Edward Moreno and Rafael Bernal