Linda Lopez | |
|---|---|
| Member of theNew Mexico Senate from the 11th district | |
| Assumed office 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Tom R. Benavides |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1964-03-13)March 13, 1964 (age 61) Albuquerque,New Mexico, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | College of Santa Fe (BBA,MBA) |
Linda M. Lopez (born March 13, 1964) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as a member of theNew Mexico Senate from the 11th district. Lopez has also served as the chair of theBernalillo CountyDemocratic Party since 2003.[1]
Lopez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[1] She earned a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration from theCollege of Santa Fe.[2] While in the legislature, she attendedUniversity of New Mexico School of Law but dropped out when her mother fell ill.[3][4]
Lopez previously worked in thehuman resources department at andSandia National Laboratories and Albuquerque's Presbyterian Hospital.[4] She owns a consulting firm based inAlbuquerque.[3]
Lopez was first elected to theNew Mexico Senate in 1996, representing a district that includes the southwest portion ofAlbuquerque, New Mexico.[4][5] She has served since 1997 and is the longtime chair of the Senate Rules Committee. She was also the Chairman of theBernalillo County Democratic Party from 2003 to 2004. She was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination forLieutenant Governor of New Mexico in 2010, coming fourth out of five candidates.[1][4][3]
Lopez ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in the2014 New Mexico gubernatorial election.[6] She came in last place in the Democraticprimary election: state Attorney GeneralGary King won the nomination with about 35% of the vote, Santa Fe MayorAlan Webber received about 23%, Lawrence Rael received about 20%,Howie Morales received about 14%, and Lopez received about 8%.[7][8]
In the Senate, Lopez has supportedrenewable energy mandates and a moratorium onfracking.[2] She supported allowing unaffiliated voters to participate inprimary elections, increased funding forearly childhood education and other early childhood services, and the use of emergency powers to combat theCOVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico.[2] Lopez voted in favor ofmedical marijuana in New Mexico and stated that, "With proper oversight and structure, I will support legalizing recreational marijuana."[2] She has supported legislation to mandate the wearing ofbody-worn cameras by almost all state and local law enforcement officers in New Mexico.[9] A supporter ofabortion rights,[2] Lopez sponsored legislation to remove from New Mexico's statute books the state's 1969 anti-abortion law, which has been largely unenforceable sinceRoe v. Wade (1973); the proposal failed in a 24–18 vote in the state Senate.[10][11]
Lopez has sponsored legislation in 2019 to create a task force to design a monument at the site of theBattle of Glorieta Pass, an 1862American Civil War battle in whichUnion forces beat back aConfederate Army advance.[12]
Lopez isRoman Catholic. She is divorced and has one son and a daughter.[1]
On January 3, 2023, a suspect fired over a dozen gunshots at Lopez's home, three of which went through Lopez's 10-year-old daughter's bedroom. No injuries were reported.Solomon Peña, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for state representative, was later arrested in connection with the shooting, along with several other shootings that targeted Democratic politicians inAlbuquerque.[13]