# Ben Ray Luján ## Summary U.S. Senator from New Mexico since 2021. Former U.S. Rep (NM-03, 2009–2021); former DCCC chair (2017–2019) and House Assistant Speaker (2019–2021). Son of Ben Luján (former speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives, 2001–2012). Running for a second full Senate term in 2026. ## Senate career - First term (2021–2027); won 2020 open seat vs. Mark Ronchetti (R) by 6 points - Commerce, Indian Affairs, HELP, Budget committees - Subcommittee chair positions on Communications and Consumer Protection issues - **January 2022 stroke**: recovered after weeks of absence; returned to full Senate duty. A well-publicized recovery that has become a baseline reference for other members' health episodes. ## Political profile - Progressive on climate, tribal affairs, and rural broadband - Hispanic Caucus leadership - Strong constituent service brand in New Mexico; rarely challenged from the left despite his centrist committee positioning - Senate Democratic Caucus loyalist ## 2026: running Running unopposed within the Democratic establishment (fringe primary challenge from Matt Dodson). **The Republican Party failed to field a credible general-election candidate** — sole filed R was disqualified for insufficient petition signatures, leaving only a write-in. See [[NM-Sen-2026]] for the race file. Expected to win a second term comfortably. ## Related KB entities - [[NM-Sen-2026]] — his re-election race ## Sources - [Wikipedia — Ben Ray Luján](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Ray_Luj%C3%A1n)