Raúl Torrez | |
|---|---|
| 32ndAttorney General of New Mexico | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Governor | Michelle Lujan Grisham |
| Preceded by | Hector Balderas |
| District Attorney ofBernalillo County | |
| In office January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kari Brandenburg |
| Succeeded by | Sam Bregman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1976-07-24)July 24, 1976 (age 49) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nasha |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (AB) London School of Economics (MS) Stanford University (JD) |
Raúl Torrez (born July 24, 1976)[1][2] is an American lawyer and politician from New Mexico. A member of theDemocratic Party, Torrez is theAttorney General of New Mexico.
Torrez's father, Presiliano Torrez, was a federal prosecutor and his mother taught Spanish atSandia Preparatory School. He graduated from Sandia Prep, and then attendedHarvard University, where he graduatedcum laude[3] with aBachelor of Arts in government. He earned aMaster of Science in international political economy from theLondon School of Economics,[4] and then worked for the Cesar Chavez Foundation in Los Angeles before attendingStanford Law School, earning hisJuris Doctor.[3][4]
After graduating from law school in 2005, Torrez became an assistant district attorney inValencia County, New Mexico. The next year, he took a job in the office of theNew Mexico attorney general. In 2008, Torrez was chief counsel toBen Luján, thespeaker of theNew Mexico House of Representatives, and then he served as aWhite House Fellow in the class of 2009–2010 during thepresidency of Barack Obama.[3][5] He returned to Albuquerque to work in theUnited States attorney's office and operated a solo law firm.[3]
Torrez won theDemocratic Party nomination fordistrict attorney ofBernalillo County, New Mexico, in 2016. He won the general election without opposition from aRepublican.[6][7]
WithHector Balderas unable to run for reelection asNew Mexico Attorney General in the2022 election due toterm limits, Torrez announced his candidacy to succeed him in May 2021.[8] Torrez won the Democratic nomination, defeatingNew Mexico State AuditorBrian Colón,[9] and faced Republican Jeremy Gay.[10] Torrez defeated Gay in the general election.[11]
Torrez's wife, Nasha, is also an attorney and is a dean at theUniversity of New Mexico.[3] They have two children.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Raúl Torrez | 388,592 | 55.3 | |
| Republican | Jeremy Gay | 314,023 | 44.6 | |
| Total votes | 702,615 | 100.0 | ||
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Attorney General of New Mexico 2023–present | Incumbent |
Statewide political officials ofNew Mexico | ||
|---|---|---|
| U.S. senators |  | |
| State government | ||
| Senate |
| |
| House |
| |
| Supreme Court |
| |