Ben Ray Luján facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Ray Luján
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Official portrait, 2025
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| United States Senator from New Mexico |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2021 Serving with Martin Heinrich
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| Preceded by | Tom Udall |
| Assistant Speaker of the United States House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Jim Clyburn (Assistant Democratic Leader) |
| Succeeded by | Katherine Clark |
| Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Steve Israel |
| Succeeded by | Cheri Bustos |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 3rd district |
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| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Udall |
| Succeeded by | Teresa Leger Fernandez |
| Member of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission from the 3rd district |
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| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Jerome Block |
| Succeeded by | Jerome Block Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 7, 1972 Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Alma mater | New Mexico Highlands University (BBA) |
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| Website | |
Ben Ray Luján (born June 7, 1972) is an American politician. He has been a U.S. Senator for New Mexico since 2021. Before that, he was a U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 3rd district from 2009 to 2021. He also served as an assistant speaker in the House from 2019 to 2021.
Luján was chosen to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in 2014. This group helps Democrats get elected to the House of Representatives. Under his leadership, Democrats won control of the House in the 2018 elections. He was the first Hispanic person to hold this important role. As assistant House Democratic leader, Luján was the highest-ranking Hispanic person in Congress.
In 2019, Luján announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat that was becoming open. He won the election in November 2020 and started his term as Senator in January 2021.
Early Life and Education
Ben Ray Luján was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He grew up in Nambe, New Mexico, with two older sisters and an older brother. His father, Ben Luján, was also a politician who served in the New Mexico House of Representatives for many years.
After finishing high school in 1990, Ben Ray Luján worked at a casino. He then went to the University of New Mexico and later earned a business degree from New Mexico Highlands University.
Early Career in Public Service
Serving on the Public Regulation Commission
In 2004, Luján was elected to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC). This commission helps regulate important services like electricity, gas, and telecommunications in New Mexico. He represented the third district of the PRC.
He was the chairman of the PRC for three years, from 2005 to 2007. During his time, he helped New Mexico require utility companies to get more of their energy from renewable sources like solar and wind. He also worked with other states to find ways to deal with global warming.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Winning Elections for Congress
In 2008, Ben Ray Luján ran for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent New Mexico's 3rd congressional district. The previous representative, Tom Udall, was running for the Senate. Luján won the Democratic primary election in June 2008.
He then won the general election against a Republican and an independent candidate. He was re-elected to his seat multiple times, serving in the House until 2021.
Key Work in Congress
Luján worked on several important issues during his time in the House.
Health Care and Public Health
He supported making health care more affordable and accessible for people. He spoke about including a "public option" in health care bills, which would give people a government-run health insurance choice.
Energy and the Environment
Luján has been a strong supporter of protecting the environment and using clean energy. He led a group in Congress focused on a "Green Economy" and renewable energy. He helped create laws to encourage solar energy and train people for jobs in clean energy.
He also works on issues related to PFAS, which are chemicals that can pollute water. He wants to help communities affected by this pollution, especially near Air Force bases. Luján supports the Green New Deal, which is a plan to fight climate change and create jobs. He has also worked on laws to help the U.S. reach "net zero" carbon emissions.
Education and Learning
Luján has supported efforts to improve education. He backed laws that help schools and students, including reforms for student loans. He also supported programs that encourage students to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).
Supporting Native American Communities
Luján's district includes many Native American tribes. He has worked to get more funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service, which provide services to tribal communities. He also helped create laws that allow tribes to ask the president directly for disaster help. He supported protecting sacred Native American lands.
Committees and Groups in the House
While in the House, Luján was part of important committees and groups:
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
- Subcommittee on Health
- Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection
- Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
He was also a member of:
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Serving in the U.S. Senate
Winning the Senate Election
In April 2019, Luján announced he would run for the U.S. Senate. He won the Democratic primary election without any opponents. In the general election in November 2020, he defeated Republican Mark Ronchetti and became a U.S. Senator.
Time in the Senate
Luján officially became a Senator on January 3, 2021.
Important Events
On January 6, 2021, Luján was at the U.S. Capitol when it was attacked by a crowd. He called the event "a direct attack on our nation's democracy."
In early 2022, Luján had a stroke and was hospitalized. He took time to recover and returned to work in the Senate in March 2022. He has since made a good recovery.
Energy and Foreign Policy
In 2021, Luján joined other Senators in blocking a ban on hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, which is a way to get oil and gas from the ground.
In 2024, he voted on a proposal about human rights and U.S. aid to Israel's military. The proposal did not pass.
Senate Committee Assignments
As a Senator, Luján serves on several key committees:
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
- Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
- Committee on the Budget
- Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
- Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband (Chair)
- Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security
- Subcommittee on Oceans, Fisheries, Climate Change and Manufacturing
- Subcommittee on Space and Science
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
- Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security
- Committee on Indian Affairs
Personal Life
Ben Ray Luján is Catholic.
Images for kids
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Ben Ray Luján's signature
See also
In Spanish: Ben Ray Luján para niños
