Tom Udall

Thomas Stewart “Tom” Udall (born May 18, 1948) is the senior United States Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected to the Senate in 2008, he previously represented New Mexico's 3rd congressional district as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009 and was the Attorney General of New Mexico from 1991 to 1999.

Early life, education, and law career
Udall was born in Tucson, Arizona, to Ermalee Lenora (née Webb) and Stewart Udall, the Secretary of the Interior from 1961 to 1969. He attended Prescott College and was graduated with a pre-law degree in 1970. In 1975, he was graduated from Cambridge University in England with a Bachelor of Law degree. That fall, he enrolled in the University of New Mexico School of Law and was graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1977.

Following that graduation, Udall was a law clerk to Chief Judge Oliver Seth of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. His legal career then included appointments as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the criminal division and Chief Counsel to the Department of Health and Environment.

Early political career
In 1982, Udall ran for Congress in the newly-created 3rd district, based in the state capital, Santa Fe and most of north of the state, however, he lost the Democratic primary to Bill Richardson. In 1989, he ran for Congress again in a special election for the Albuquerque-based 1st district for the seat left open by retiring twenty-year incumbent Manuel Lujan, but narrowly lost to Bernalillo County District Attorney, Steven Schiff. From 1991 to 1999 he served as Attorney General of New Mexico.

Elections
Udall ran for Congress again in 1998 in the 3rd district against incumbent Bill Redmond, who had been elected in a 1997 special election to replace Richardson. Redmond was a conservative Republican representing a heavily Democratic district, and the 3rd's partisan tilt was enough for Udall to defeat Redmond, winning 53 percent of the vote. He was reelected four more times with no substantive opposition, including an unopposed run in 2002.

Tenure
As a U.S. Representative, Tom Udall was a member of the centrist New Democrat Coalition and the more liberal Congressional Progressive Caucus. He was also a member of the United States House Peak Oil Caucus, which he co-founded with Representative Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland.

Committee assignments

 * United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
 * House Native American Caucus (Co-Vice Chair)
 * International Conservation Caucus (Co-Chair)

Elections
In November 2007, Udall announced he would run for the Senate, replacing retiring incumbent Pete Domenici. Potential Democratic rival Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez dropped out, handing Udall the nomination. New Mexico's other two members of the House, 1st and 3rd district's Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce run in the Republican primary. Pearce won the Republican nomination, and lost to Udall who won 61 percent of the vote.

While Udall was running for Senate in New Mexico, his younger first cousin, Congressman Mark Udall, was running for the Senate in Colorado. Their double second cousin, incumbent Gordon Smith of Oregon, was also running for re-election.

Tenure
Udall has voted with his party 97 percent of the time since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate. He voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, DREAM Act, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

Committee assignments

 * Committee on Foreign Relations
 * Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection
 * Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs
 * Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs
 * Subcommittee on African Affairs
 * Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
 * Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
 * Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
 * Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation, and Export Promotion
 * Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
 * Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security
 * Committee on Environment and Public Works
 * Subcommittee on Children's Health (Chairman)
 * Subcommittee on Oversight
 * Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife
 * Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
 * Committee on Indian Affairs
 * Committee on Rules and Administration
 * Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
 * International Narcotics Control Caucus


 * Caucus memberships
 * Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus
 * House Native American Caucus (Co-Vice Chair)
 * International Conservation Caucus (Co-Chair)
 * Rural Caucus
 * Sportsmen's Caucus

Personal life
Udall is married to Jill Cooper Udall. They live in Santa Fe with their one daughter, Amanda Cooper. Udall is the nephew of Arizona Congressman Morris Udall, and first cousin of senior Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall, double second cousin of former Oregon U.S. Senator Gordon Smith, and second cousin of Utah U.S. Senator Mike Lee.

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