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Rep. Martin Heinrich Democrat of New Mexico

For U.S Senate in 2012

Statistics

Party: Democrat
Born: 10/17/1971
Education: U of Missouri, B.S. 1995; U of New Mexico
Occupation: State natural resources director; community advocacy consultant; outdoor education nonprofit director; mechanical engineering draftsman
Family:
Religion:
Political Career: Albuquerque City Council, 2003-07, US House of Representatives 2009-2012
Committees: Armed Services, Natural Resources

Why Your Support

Martin Heinrich is a steadfast supporter of a woman’s right to choose and an advocate for women in general, having received a 100% score from NARAL in 2009. With Rep. Heinrich's victory in 2008, the state boasts an entirely pro-choice Congressional delegation.

 On foreign policy, Heinrich has consistenly supported a strong US-Israel relationship. He signed the Hoyer-Cantor letter to Secretary Clinton on the commitment to an unbreakable US-Israel bond, which stated: “Our valuable bilateral relationship with Israel needs and deserves constant reinforcement. As the Vice-President said during his recent visit to Israel: ‘Progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to security, none. No space.’”

The GOP is targeting New Mexico in its drive to capture control of the Senate and swing the battleground state back to Republicans in the 2012l election. Heinrich's opponent in November is former Rep. Heather Wilson.  Despite the moderate image Wilson has made an effort to create, her six-year voting record when she was in Congress  revealed her to be a reliable loyalist to the official Republican party line.  She is staunchly anti-choice and has a 0% rating from the AU on religion-state separation.  The Republicans are more determined than ever to take back the Senate by winning this swing state seat that has been held for thirty years by Democrat Jeff Bingaman. Martin Heinrich will need our support to stop that from happening and to continue to be a strong voice for JAC’s values. 

Background

New Mexico is a swing state, although Barack Obama’s win by 57% to 42% over McCain in the 2008 election in New Mexico suggests that the state is now leaning Democratic.  The state is 68% white and 46% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino origin. New Mexico has a large and increasing Hispanic population that has supported the Democratic Party in recent years. Still, New Mexico’s current governor is Republican and the population has favored both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates in the past, about equally. The state is considered an important battleground in the 2012 election. 

About The Candidate

Martin Heinrich grew up on a ranch in Missouri.  His father, an FDR-era Democrat, had an early influence on his political philosophy. The son of an electrician and a factory worker, Martin Heinrich is a committed advocate for New Mexico's middle class families.  Heinrich currently resides in Albuquerque with his wife, Julie, and two sons, Carter and Micah. As one of only a handful of members of Congress with a background in science and technology, Heinrich brings a unique perspective as we seek to create good, sustainable jobs in growing industries like clean energy and biotechnology.
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