Martin Heinrich

When he was naturalized as an American citizen in 1955, he changed his name again to Pete Carl Heinrich.

Raised as a Lutheran, Martin Heinrich grew up in Cole Camp, Missouri.

It had been in Republican hands since New Mexico was split into districts in 1969 but has become increasingly friendly to Democrats in recent years; it has gone Democratic in every presidential election since 1992.

Heinrich was challenged by Republican Jon Barela, who told Politico he did not believe Heinrich reflected the district, saying he was too far left on budget and spending issues.

Martin Trevor Heinrich (born October 17, 1971) is an American businessman and politician serving as the senior United States senator from New Mexico, a seat he has held since 2013.

He attended public schools in Cole Camp, then moved to Columbia, Missouri, in 1989 to attend the University of Missouri.

He graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering.

He left Missouri for Albuquerque to take graduate courses at the University of New Mexico.

After a brief stint doing mechanical drawings, Heinrich worked as an AmeriCorps fellow in New Mexico.

From 1996 to 2001 Heinrich served as executive director of the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation, a New Mexico nonprofit organization dedicated to educating young people on natural science and the environment.

In 2002 he founded his own public affairs consulting firm.

From 2004 to 2008, he served on the Albuquerque City Council, representing the 6th district.

Heinrich served on the Albuquerque City Council from 2004 to 2008, including one term as city council president in 2006.

As a city councilman, he said his goals were to reduce crime, raise the minimum wage and create new jobs.

He also advocated the use of wind and solar power.

In February 2006 Governor Bill Richardson appointed Heinrich to be the state's Natural Resources Trustee.

Heinrich was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 and reelected in 2010.

In 2008 Heinrich filed papers to run in NM's 1st congressional district, based in Albuquerque.

He originally planned to challenge five-term Republican incumbent Heather Wilson, but Wilson retired to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Pete Domenici.

Heinrich won the Democratic primary on June 4, 2008, defeating New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, State Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham, and U.S. Army veteran Robert Pidcock, 44–25–24–8%.

In the general election Heinrich faced Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, whom Heinrich's campaign focused on linking to President George W. Bush.

Heinrich also called for energy independence and an end to the war in Iraq.

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.

A member of the Democratic Party, Heinrich served as the U.S. representative from New Mexico's 1st congressional district from 2009 to 2013.

He is the dean of New Mexico's congressional delegation.

Born in Fallon, Nevada, Heinrich lived much of his adulthood in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and maintains a residence there along with his work residence in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Upon his swearing in on January 3, 2009, Heinrich became the first Democrat to represent the district.

On January 14, 2009, the House Democratic freshmen elected Heinrich to a six-month term as their class president.

He co-sponsored the Stop the Congressional Pay Raise Act, which would cancel an automatic $4,700 salary raise for members of Congress.

During the 2010 campaign Roll Call reported that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee assigned a lobbyist to aid in the reelection campaigns of possibly vulnerable House members in fundraising, messaging and campaign strategy.

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.

On March 21, 2010, Heinrich voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly called Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act).

Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, Heinrich has chaired the Joint Economic Committee, having previously served as vice chair.

Martin Trevor Heinrich was born in Fallon, near Carson City, Nevada.

He is the son of seamstress Shirley A. (née Bybee) and Pete C. Heinrich, a utility company lineman.

His father was born in Waldenburg, Germany, as Heinrich Peter Karl Cordes and later took his stepfather Olaf Heinrich's surname.

In lieu of running for a third term in the House, Heinrich ran for the Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Jeff Bingaman in the 2012 election and defeated Republican Heather Wilson, 51%–45%.

He was reelected in 2018, receiving 54% of the vote in a three-way race.