Xochitl Torres Small | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 15thUnited States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office July 17, 2023 – January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Jewel H. Bronaugh |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Vaden |
| Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development | |
| In office October 13, 2021 – July 17, 2023 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Lisa Mensah |
| Succeeded by | Basil Gooden |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Mexico's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Pearce |
| Succeeded by | Yvette Herrell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Xochitl Liana Torres (1984-11-15)November 15, 1984 (age 40) Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nathan Small |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS) University of New Mexico (JD) |
Xochitl Liana Torres Small (first name pronounced/ˈsoʊtʃiːl/SOH-cheel; born November 15, 1984) is an American attorney and politician who was the 15thUnited States deputy secretary of agriculture from 2023 to 2025, acting as "chief operating officer" for the department. She was nominated byPresident Joe Biden in February 2023, and was confirmed by the senate on July 11.[1][2]
She was aU.S. representative forNew Mexico's 2nd congressional district from 2019 to 2021 and had previously served as theUnder Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, from 2021 to 2023.[3]
Xochitl Liana Torres was born on November 15, 1984, inPortland, Oregon, to Marcos and Cynthia "Cynta" Torres.[4] Her parents were educators. Torres Small was raised inLas Cruces, New Mexico.[5][6] She is a third-generation Mexican American.[7]
Torres graduated fromMayfield High School in absentia while she earned herInternational Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma fromWaterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa inMbabane,Eswatini. She earned aBachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree fromGeorgetown University, and aJuris Doctor degree from theUniversity of New Mexico School of Law.[8][5][9]
Torres Small worked as a field representative for U.S. SenatorTom Udall from 2009 to 2012. She served as a federal law clerk in the New Mexico District from 2015 to 2016.[5] She worked as a water attorney with the Kemp Smith law firm.[10]
In the 2018 elections, Torres Small ran as a Democrat for the openUnited States House of Representatives seat inNew Mexico's 2nd congressional district. The Republicanincumbent,Steve Pearce, declined to run for reelection in order torun for governor of New Mexico.[11] Torres Small defeated Madeline Hildebrandt in theDemocratic Partyprimary election and Republican state RepresentativeYvette Herrell in the general election.[12][13] She ran as a moderate Democrat.[14]
The results were close on election night, with Herrell in the lead at the end of the night; some New Mexico media organizations projected that she would win. The next day, more ballots were counted, narrowing Herrell's lead, and media organizations rescinded their projections.[14] On November 7, after all absentee ballots were counted, the New Mexico Secretary of State declared Torres Small the winner.[15][16]
In her first week in office, Torres Small and other members of theCongressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) traveled to theUnited States Border Patrol station atAlamogordo, New Mexico, whereFelipe Gómez Alonzo, an eight-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, died in custody.[17]
In the2020 presidential election, Torres Small said she would vote forJoe Biden despite disagreeing with some of his energy policy stances.[18]
GovTrack reports that during her two years in Congress, Torres Small was theprimary sponsor of three bills that became law, got her bills out of committee the tenth-most often of House freshmen and missed approximately 0.4% of House votes.[19]
Herrell ran again in 2020. During a debate in the campaign, she claimed to be "unashamedly pro-God, pro-life, pro-gun, pro-business and pro-family", while Torres Small touted her votes on oil and gas that bucked the Democratic Party's positions.[18]OpenSecrets reports that Torres Small outspent Herrell by over $5 million.[24]
Republicans targeted the seat as a pickup opportunity. Despite polling showing a dead heat, Herrell won 54% to 46%.[25][26][27]
On June 18, 2021, it was announced that PresidentJoe Biden would nominate Torres Small asUnder Secretary for Rural Development at theUnited States Department of Agriculture.[28][29] She was confirmed by voice vote on October 7, 2021.[30]
On February 15, 2023, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Torres Small forUnited States deputy secretary of agriculture,[31] and following a nomination hearing on May 10, she was confirmed on July 11 in a 84–8 vote.[1][2] She was sworn into office on July 17, 2023.[32]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Xochitl Torres Small | 25,193 | 72.62 | |
| Democratic | Madeline Hildebrandt | 9,500 | 27.38 | |
| Total votes | 34,693 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Xochitl Torres Small | 101,489 | 50.9 | |
| Republican | Yvette Herrell | 97,767 | 49.1 | |
| Total votes | 199,256 | 100.0 | ||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Yvette Herrell | 142,169 | 53.75 | |
| Democratic | Xochitl Torres Small (incumbent) | 122,314 | 46.25 | |
| Total votes | 264,483 | 100.0 | ||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | ||||
In 2016, Torres Small's husband,Nathan Small, was elected to theNew Mexico House of Representatives, representing the 36th district.[11] He ran for reelection in 2018, winning with 59.9% of the vote.[33][34] She is aLutheran.[35]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Mexico's 2nd congressional district 2019–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Lisa Mensah | Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| Territorial (1851–1912) |
|  | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-large seats (1912–1969) |
| ||||||
| Districts (1969–present) (3rd district established in 1983) |
| ||||||
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
