Ben Lujan

Provide a short bio of yourself and tell us how you got into public service?

I was born and raised on a small family farm in Nambé, New Mexico, where I learned the value of hard work and service from my father, a union ironworker and Speaker of the House, and my mother, a public school employee. Those lessons led me to pursue public service, first as a Public Regulation Commissioner, to the U.S. House, and now in the U.S. Senate.

Today, I'm proud to represent New Mexico in the U.S. Senate as the first Hispanic senator in more than 40 years from our state. I'm focused on lowering costs, expanding access to affordable health care, protecting food assistance, and creating good-paying jobs.

I’ve worked to deliver real results for working families, rural and Tribal communities, and all 33 counties, while standing up for our values and holding those in power accountable.

What do you see as the primary problems facing New Mexico on which a U.S. senator can make an impact? And how would you approach them?

New Mexicans are sick and tired of the corruption coming from the Trump White House while costs keep rising at home. Republicans in Congress have given President Trump a blank check and refuse to hold him accountable.

My priorities in the Senate are lowering costs, demanding accountability, and making sure New Mexicans’ voices are heard.

I’m fighting to protect our public lands and water, ensure radiation victims receive the compensation they are owed, and protect access to affordable health care. I have always approached my work in the Senate by putting New Mexicans first.

What do you believe Washington fundamentally misunderstands about New Mexico—and what would you change about how federal policy treats the state?

What I always tell my colleagues in Congress and administrations of both parties is that New Mexico is too often underestimated. We are home to some of the brightest minds in the world, from our national labs and research institutions to our farmers, ranchers, Tribal communities, and small businesses solving problems every day.

Too often, decisions are made in Washington without understanding how they impact communities on the ground. We saw that when Elon Musk’s DOGE targeted New Mexico jobs, firing hardworking people, disrupting families and local economies, only to reverse course and rehire some of them later. It was chaotic and disrespectful.

Federal policy should reflect the value of our people, respect our communities, and invest in the future we are building here in New Mexico.

Where do you break with your own party—and can you name a specific vote where you would go against party leadership?

I’ve always done what I believe is best for New Mexico, no matter who is in power.

When New Mexico disaster recovery was on the line, I stood up to the White House and party leadership and successfully secured billions to help our state recover from fires and flooding.

As we negotiated a landmark innovation and competition bill, I broke with Democrats in leadership and built a strong coalition of bipartisan senators to make the case that our National Labs should be included in that legislation. We won that fight, and now our National Labs are better equipped to meet U.S. competition and security needs.

When Donald Trump shut down the government, I broke with members of my own party and made clear I would not support a funding deal unless ACA tax credits – which make health care more affordable – were restored.

I was also among the first in my party to support Sen. Bernie Sanders’ efforts to block weapons sales to Netanyahu. I’m sure there will be many more votes where I may not be aligned with party leadership, but I will always stand on the side of the people I represent.

New Mexico has a critical need to address outcomes in crime, poverty, and education—what is one measurable change you would deliver in your first term, and how would you pay for it?

As New Mexico’s senator, I am always working to bring federal dollars home to strengthen public safety, ensure kids have healthy food to eat, and make health care more affordable and accessible for New Mexicans. The educational opportunities New Mexican children have now will grow the economic future of New Mexico.

That is why I am leading the opposition against the Trump administration’s actions to dismantle the Department of Education, cut Head Start programs, attack our universities, and undermine our public schools. I will continue to fight to restore the resources cut by this Administration that our states, school districts, and families rely on.

But I won’t stop there, I believe we need to do more than restore what we have lost. I have introduced bills to achieve measurable goals that increase educational outcomes like improving teacher recruitment in high-need districts, ensuring full funding of Title I schools, and expanding community schools — all programs that directly benefit New Mexican children. To fund these education goals, I believe that the largest corporations and the wealthiest should pay their fair share of taxes.

Energy is central to New Mexico’s economy—how do you balance oil and gas revenue with climate policy without hurting the state’s budget?

One example is the REGROW Act, legislation that I introduced and was signed into law, which shows that both parties can work together to protect both jobs and the environment. The law puts people to work plugging abandoned oil and gas wells that leak methane and threaten our communities. We can support workers and our economy while also addressing environmental risks and building a more sustainable future. I’ve continued building on this work through additional efforts to identify and remediate abandoned wells nationwide, creating jobs and reducing harmful emissions at the same time.

Why should Democratic primary voters choose you over your opponent — not in terms of biography, but in terms of what would actually be different in the Senate?

I’m proud to serve New Mexico in the U.S. Senate. I’m the only Democrat in this race with a proven record of delivering results and a clear vision for New Mexico’s future. I’ve spent my career working with leaders across New Mexico to get things done, and I believe our Democratic Party is strongest when we are focused on delivering for our communities, not tearing each other down.

New Mexicans want a leader who will stand up to President Trump, fight to lower costs, and actually get things done. That is exactly what I will continue to do in the Senate, with integrity, leadership, and a focus on delivering results.