Martin Heinrich | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Senator fromNew Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office January 3, 2013 Serving with Ben Ray Luján | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jeff Bingaman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Mexico's1st district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Heather Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Michelle Lujan Grisham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of theAlbuquerque City Council from the 6th district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 2004 – January 3, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Hess Yntema | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Rey Garduno | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Martin Trevor Heinrich (1971-10-17)October 17, 1971 (age 54) Fallon, Nevada, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | University of Missouri (BS) University of New Mexico | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | Senate website Campaign website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heinrich supporting the Continental Divide Trail Completion Act. Recorded December 1, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Martin Trevor Heinrich (/ˈhaɪnrɪk/HYNE-rik; born October 17, 1971) is an American politician serving as theseniorUnited States senator fromNew Mexico, a seat he has held since 2013. A member of theDemocratic Party, Heinrich served as theU.S. representative fromNew Mexico's 1st congressional district from 2009 to 2013. He and fellow senatorBen Ray Luján are the co-deans ofNew Mexico's congressional delegation.
Born inFallon, Nevada, Heinrich lived much of his adulthood inAlbuquerque, New Mexico, and maintains a residence there along with his work residence inSilver Spring, Maryland.[1][2] From 2004 to 2008, he served on theAlbuquerque City Council, representing the 6th district. Heinrich was elected to theU.S. House of Representativesin 2008 and reelected in2010.
In lieu of running for a third term in the House, Heinrich ran for the Senate seat vacated by retiring SenatorJeff Bingaman inthe 2012 election and defeatedRepublicanHeather Wilson, 51%–45%. He was reelected in2018 and2024. Since the beginning of the118th Congress, Heinrich has chaired theJoint Economic Committee, having previously served as vice chair. In January 2021, Heinrich became New Mexico's senior senator whenTom Udall retired from the Senate.
Martin Trevor Heinrich was born inFallon, nearCarson City, Nevada. He is the son of seamstress Shirley A. (née Bybee) and Pete C. Heinrich, a utility company lineman.[3][4] His father was born inWaldenburg, Germany, as Heinrich Peter Karl Cordes and later took his stepfather Olaf Heinrich's surname. When he was naturalized as an American citizen in 1955, he changed his name again to Pete Carl Heinrich.[5] Raised as aLutheran, Martin Heinrich grew up inCole Camp, Missouri.[6] He attended public schools in Cole Camp, then moved toColumbia, Missouri, in 1989 to attend theUniversity of Missouri. He graduated in 1995 with aBachelor of Science in mechanical engineering.[4] He left Missouri for Albuquerque to take graduate courses at theUniversity of New Mexico.[7]
After a brief stint doing mechanical drawings,[4] Heinrich worked as anAmeriCorps fellow in New Mexico.[8]
From 1996 to 2001 Heinrich served as executive director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, a New Mexico nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people onnatural science and theenvironment.[7] In 2002 he founded his ownpublic affairsconsulting firm.[4][7]
Heinrich served on theAlbuquerque City Council from 2004 to 2008, including one term as city council president in 2006.[9][10] As a city councilman, he said his goals were to reduce crime, raise theminimum wage and create new jobs. He also advocated the use ofwind andsolar power.[7]
In February 2006 GovernorBill Richardson appointed Heinrich to be the state'sNatural Resources Trustee.[11]
In 2008 Heinrich filed papers to run inNew Mexico's 1st congressional district, based in Albuquerque. He originally planned to challenge five-termRepublican incumbentHeather Wilson, but Wilson retired to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring RepublicanPete Domenici.[12] Heinrich won the Democraticprimary on June 4, 2008, defeatingNew Mexico Secretary of StateRebecca Vigil-Giron, State Health SecretaryMichelle Lujan Grisham, andU.S. Army veteran Robert Pidcock, 44–25–24–8%.[13][14]
In the general election Heinrich facedBernalillo CountySheriffDarren White, whom Heinrich's campaign focused on linking toPresidentGeorge W. Bush.[15] Heinrich also called forenergy independence and an end to thewar in Iraq.[15] He defeated White 56–44%, carrying three of the district's five counties: Bernalillo (56%), Sandoval (56%), and Valencia (53%); White won Santa Fe (64%) and Torrance (57%) counties.[16] Heinrich is the first Democrat to represent the district, which had been in Republican hands since New Mexico was split into districts in 1969 but became increasingly friendly to Democrats, having gone Democratic in every presidential election since 1992.
Heinrich was challenged by Republican Jon Barela, who toldPolitico he did not believe Heinrich reflected the district, saying he was too far left on budget and spending issues.[17] During the 2010 campaignRoll Call reported that theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee assigned a lobbyist to aid in the reelection campaigns of possibly vulnerable House members in fundraising, messaging and campaign strategy.[18] Heinrich was elected to a second term, defeating Barela 52–48%, and carrying two of the district's counties: Bernalillo (53%) and Sandoval (51%). Barela won Santa Fe (67%), Torrance (61%), and Valencia (53%) counties.[19]
On January 14, 2009, the House Democratic freshmen elected Heinrich to a six-month term as their class president.[20] He co-sponsored the Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act, which would cancel an automatic $4,700 salary raise for members of Congress.[21]
On March 21, 2010, Heinrich voted for thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly called Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act).[22] In 2017 he co-sponsored Medicare-For-All.[23]
NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC endorsed Heinrich in 2010.[24][25]
Heinrich received a 100% score from NARAL in 2009.[26]
Heinrich has identified as an environmentalist throughout his career. He served as executive director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation,[27] a New Mexico nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people onnatural science and theenvironment, and founded his ownpublic affairsconsulting firm.[7]
Later, as a member of the Albuquerque City Council, he advocated for the use ofwind andsolar power.[7] In February 2006GovernorBill Richardson appointed him to be the state'sNatural Resources Trustee.[11] He also served on the executive committee of the Sierra Club's Rio Grande Chapter.[28] In August 2011 he received theSierra Club's first endorsement of the 2012 election cycle.[28][29] He opposes construction of theKeystone Pipeline. He supportscap-and-trade legislation.[30] In April 2019 Heinrich was one of three Democratic senators who joined Republicans to vote to confirmDavid Bernhardt, a former oil executive, as Secretary of the Interior Department.[31]
In late 2019, Heinrich was one of 14 senators to co-sponsor theGreen New Deal, a policy introduced in theU.S. House of Representatives andU.S. Senate that would establish net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.[32]
Heinrich was a member of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, which published a report of its findings in August 2020.[33]
After his 2012 Senate primary opponent,Hector Balderas, announced his support forsame-sex marriage,[34] Heinrich's staff released a statement toThe New Mexico Independent newspaper stating, "Martin has supported gay marriage for some time. I just don't think he was asked about it. Thanks for asking!"[35] He was an original cosponsor of CongressmanJerry Nadler's 2009 legislation to repeal theDefense of Marriage Act.[36]
Heinrich is an outdoorsman, hunter, gun owner, and former member of theNational Rifle Association (NRA).[37] The NRA endorsed him during the 2010 congressional election. At that time, the NRA gave him an A grade for his stance onSecond Amendment rights.[38] The NRA did not support Heinrich during his2012 Senate campaign, and he has since donated their 2010 contribution to charity.[37]
Heinrich opposed a bill that would have reinstated theFederal Assault Weapons Ban.[39] He also supported bills to create a national standard for the concealed carrying of firearms across state lines, co-sponsored legislation that would ease the restrictions on the sales of firearms across state lines, and called for the repeal of theDickey Amendment, which prevents government research into curbing gun violence.[37][40] He supports banningbump stocks and banning sales to anyone on the federalno fly list.[41]
In 2008, the New Mexico Republican Party criticized Heinrich for his work on the creation of the OjitoNational Wilderness, which they said amounted to unregistered lobbying. Heinrich responded that the work was advocacy that did not require lobbying disclosure.[42]
Heinrich was a member of theHouse Armed Services Committee.[43] During his time in Congress he has maintained strong opposition to the war in Iraq, and supported a swift end of combat operations inAfghanistan.[44] In 2011 he voted against the National Defense Authorization Act conference report because he objected to language requiring that suspected foreign terrorists be taken into custody by the military instead of civilian law enforcement authorities.[45]
Heinrich announced that he would leave the House to run for the United States Senate seat held byJeff Bingaman, who retired at the end of his term.[47] In March,Politico reported thatAl Gore had signed a fundraising letter for Heinrich.[48] Heinrich defeated State AuditorHector Balderas in the Democratic primary.[49] He defeated RepublicanHeather Wilson, his predecessor in Congress, in the November 6 general election, 51% to 45%.[50]
Heinrich was reelected to a second term in 2018 over Republican Mick Rich and LibertarianGary Johnson.[51] He gained 54% of the vote to Rich's 30% and Johnson's 15%.
Heinrich was elected to a third Senate term,[52] defeating Republican nominee Nella Domenici with 55% of the vote.[53][54]
In November 2020, Heinrich was named a candidate forsecretary of the interior in theBiden administration.[55][56] This position ultimately went to fellow New MexicanDeb Haaland, who held the same House seat Heinrich held until his election to the Senate.
Heinrich was participating in the certification of the2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supportersstormed the U.S. Capitol. He left the chamber to make a phone call and saw that the rioters were overwhelming the Capitol Police. He returned to the chamber to tell people what he saw: "an out of control mob climbing over things, waving Confederate flags, just clearly bent on breaking into the west side of the Capitol."[57] Along with other senators, Heinrich was evacuated from the Senate chamber to an undisclosed location.[58] He called the attack an "assault on democracy" and blamed Trump.[59] In the wake of the attack, Heinrich said invoking theTwenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution and/or impeachment would be appropriate to remove Trump.[57][60]
On April 17, 2013, Heinrich voted to expand background checks for gun purchases,[61] and against regulating assault weapons.[62]
In response to the2017 Las Vegas shooting, Heinrich said that Congress should pass legislation to combat gun violence.[63]
On September 27, 2013, Heinrich voted to restore funding for theAffordable Care Act as part of an amendment to legislation funding government operations for 45 days, and which also omitted House-passed language prioritizing debt payments if Congress fails to increase the nation's borrowing limits.[64]
On December 21, 2017, Heinrich was one of six senators to introduce the Secure Elections Act, legislation authorizing block grants to states to update outdated voting technology as well as form a program for an independent panel of experts that would work to develop cybersecurity guidelines for election systems that states could implement, along with offering states resources to install the recommendations.[65]
In February 2021, Heinrich was one of seven Democratic U.S. Senators to join Republicans in blocking a ban ofhydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking.[66]
On March 16, 2021, Heinrich introduced a bill to grantPuerto Rico statehood.[67]
In January 2024, Heinrich voted for a resolution proposed by SenatorBernie Sanders to apply thehuman rights provisions of theForeign Assistance Act toU.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.[68] In November 2024, Heinrich was one of 19 senators to vote to block the United States' arms sales to Israel.[69] In April 2025, Heinrich voted for a pair of resolutions Sanders proposed to cancel theTrump administration's sales of $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Israel. The proposals were defeated, 82 to 15.[70]
On July 19, 2024, Heinrich called forJoe Biden to withdraw from the2024 United States presidential election.[71]
Heinrich served on the followingSenate committees in the118th Congress:[72]
In March 2019, Heinrich andRob Portman co-founded the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus.[73] On April 15, 2020, theTrump administration invited Heinrich to join a bipartisan task force on reopening the economy amid theCOVID-19 pandemic.[74]
In 2014, Heinrich and SenatorJeff Flake traveled to Eru, a small island in theMarshall Islands. TheDiscovery Channel sent a film crew to document their trip and planned to air the film for a show calledRival Survival. Heinrich and Flake had to survive for six days with few resources, including no natural sources of drinkable water. After the trip, Heinrich told reporters that he and Flake, a Republican, decided to do it to demonstrate that politicians from different political parties can work together, in their case to survive.[75][76]
Heinrich lives inAlbuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife, Julie, and their two children. He isLutheran.[77]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Martin Heinrich | 2,342 | 39.85 | |
| Nonpartisan | Johanna Tighe | 1,129 | 19.21 | |
| Nonpartisan | Linda Doran | 758 | 12.90 | |
| Nonpartisan | Bob Anderson | 620 | 10.55 | |
| Nonpartisan | Dona Upson | 584 | 9.94 | |
| Nonpartisan | Javier Martinez | 432 | 7.35 | |
| Write-in | 12 | 0.20 | ||
| Total votes | 5,877 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich | 22,341 | 43.51 | |
| Democratic | Rebecca Vigil-Giron | 12,660 | 24.66 | |
| Democratic | Michelle Lujan Grisham | 12,074 | 23.51 | |
| Democratic | Robert L. Pidcock | 4,273 | 8.32 | |
| Total votes | 51,348 | 100.00 | ||
| Majority | 9,681 | 18.85 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich | 166,271 | 55.65 |  5.85 | |
| Republican | Darren White | 132,485 | 44.35 |  5.85 | |
| Total votes | 298,756 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Majority | 33,786 | 11.31 | 10.90 | ||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich (incumbent) | 32,173 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 32,173 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich (incumbent) | 112,010 | 51.80 | 3.85 | |
| Republican | Jon Barela | 104,215 | 48.20 | 3.85 | |
| Total votes | 216,225 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Majority | 7,795 | 3.61 | 7.70 | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich | 83,432 | 58.94 | |
| Democratic | Hector Balderas | 58,128 | 41.06 | |
| Total votes | 141,560 | 100.00 | ||
| Majority | 25,304 | 17.88 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich | 395,717 | 51.01 | 19.60 | |
| Republican | Heather Wilson | 351,259 | 45.28 | 15.95 | |
| Independent American | Jon Barrie | 28,199 | 3.63 | N/A | |
| Independent | Robert L. Anderson (write-in) | 617 | 0.08 | N/A | |
| Total votes | 775,792 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Majority | 44,458 | 5.73 | 35.54 | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich (incumbent) | 152,145 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 152,145 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich (incumbent) | 376,998 | 54.09 | 3.08 | |
| Republican | Mick Rich | 212,813 | 30.53 | 14.75 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson | 107,201 | 15.38 | N/A | |
| Total votes | 697,012 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Majority | 164,185 | 23.56 | 17.83 | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich (incumbent) | 122,961 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 122,961 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin Heinrich (incumbent) | 497,333 | 55.06 | 0.97 | |
| Republican | Nella Domenici | 405,978 | 44.94 | 14.41 | |
| Total votes | 903,311 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
Heinrich and his wife still own a house in southeast Albuquerque.
{{cite web}}:|last= has generic name (help)
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Mexico's 1st congressional district 2009–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromNew Mexico (Class 1) 2012,2018,2024 | Most recent |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by Jeff Bingaman | United States Senator (Class 1) from New Mexico 2013–present Served alongside:Tom Udall,Ben Ray Luján | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chair of theJoint Economic Committee 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theSenate Energy Committee 2025–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | Order of precedence of the United States as United States Senator | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States senators by seniority 39th | Succeeded by |
Statewide political officials ofNew Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
| |
| House |
| |
| Supreme Court |
| |
 | ||
| ||
| Class 1 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 | ||
| Territorial (1851–1912) |
|  | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-large seats (1912–1969) |
| ||||||
| Districts (1969–present) (3rd district established in 1983) |
| ||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
