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Joseph Montoya
United States Senator fromNew Mexico
In office November 4, 1964 – January 3, 1977
Preceded by	Edwin L. Mechem
Succeeded by	Harrison Schmitt
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Mexico'sat-large district
In office April 9, 1957 – November 3, 1964
Preceded by	Antonio M. Fernández
Succeeded by	Johnny Walker
14th and 16thLieutenant Governor of New Mexico
In office January 1, 1955 – April 9, 1957
Governor	John F. Simms Edwin L. Mechem
Preceded by	Tibo J. Chávez
Succeeded by	Ed V. Mead
In office January 1, 1947 – January 1, 1951
Governor	Thomas J. Mabry
Preceded by	James B. Jones
Succeeded by	Tibo J. Chávez
Member of theNew Mexico Senate
In office 1940–1947
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
In office 1936–1940
Personal details
Born	Joseph Manuel Montoya (1915-09-24)September 24, 1915 Peña Blanca, New Mexico, U.S.
Died	June 5, 1978(1978-06-05) (aged 62) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Della Romero
Children	3
Relatives	Alfonso T. Montoya (brother)
Education	Regis University (BA) Georgetown University (LLB)

Joseph Manuel Montoya (September 24, 1915 – June 5, 1978) was an American politician and member of theDemocratic Party who served as thelieutenant governor of New Mexico (1947–1951 and 1955–1957), in theU.S. House of Representatives (1957–1964) and as aU.S. senator from New Mexico (1964–1977).

Montoya was born inPeña Blanca, New Mexico. His parents, Thomas and Frances Montoya, were Roman Catholic descendants of eighteenth-centurySpanishsettlers to New Mexico.^[1] He received his early education in public schools inSandoval County and graduated fromBernalillo High School in 1931. He continued his education atRegis College inDenver, Colorado. In 1934, he began law school atGeorgetown University inWashington, D.C.

In 1936 at age 21, while Montoya was still at Georgetown, he became the youngest person in the history of the state to be elected to theNew Mexico House of Representatives. In 1938, Montoya graduated from law school and was re-elected. The following year, he was elected asDemocratic majority floor leader.

Montoya was elected to theNew Mexico Senate in 1940, once again becoming the youngest member of that body ever elected. By the time he left the Senate in 1946, Montoya had been twice reelected to the State Senate and held the positions of majority whip and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. From 1947 to 1957 he was electedLieutenant Governor of New Mexico three times^[2] and also served two additional terms in the State Senate.

In 1957, Montoya was elected to theU.S. House of Representatives in a special election after the sudden death of the recently reelected New Mexico CongressmanAntonio M. Fernández. In Congress, Montoya gained a recognition as a political moderate, a dedicated Democrat, and a diligent legislator — qualities that earned him the esteem of his fellow legislators and made him an effective congressman. In 1962, he defeated Republican Jack C. Redman, M.D.

In 1963, he became a member of the House Appropriations Committee where he was a strong advocate of education measures and soon authored the Vocational Education Act. In 1964, he sponsored theWilderness Act, which protected wilderness areas. Montoya won the 1964Senate election to complete the term ofDennis Chavez, who died in office. Montoya won even though theGovernor of New Mexico,Edwin L. Mechem, had resigned the governorship in order to fill the seat temporarily. Thus began a twelve-year career in the Senate, where he served on the Appropriations Committee, the Public Works Committee, the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, andSenate Watergate Committee.

In 1976, a year that was a Democratic victory nationwide, Montoya was defeated by RepublicanHarrison Schmitt 57% to 42%.

Montoya died inWashington, D.C., at the age of 62.

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States

• United States Congress."Joseph Montoya (id: M000876)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Inventory of the Joseph M. Montoya Papers, 1913–1977Archived June 5, 2010, at theWayback Machine, Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico.
• Appearances onC-SPAN

• 1915 births
• 1978 deaths
• American people of Spanish descent
• Georgetown University Law Center alumni
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico
• Democratic Party United States senators from New Mexico
• Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New Mexico
• Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress
• Lieutenant governors of New Mexico
• Democratic Party members of the New Mexico House of Representatives
• Hispanos of New Mexico
• Democratic Party New Mexico state senators
• Regis University alumni
• Watergate scandal investigators
• 20th-century United States senators
• 20th-century United States representatives
• 20th-century members of the New Mexico Legislature

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