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Portrait of Ben Ray LujánPhoto: unitedstates.github.io

NM · Officeholder

Ben Ray Luján

DU.S. Senator · New Mexico

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. Senate · New Mexico

Biography

Ben Ray Luján is the Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator from New Mexico, first elected in 2020. He grew up in Nambé, worked in state government, served on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (2004-2008), and represented New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House from 2009 to 2021, including a term as House Assistant Speaker. He is seeking a second Senate term.[1][2][3][4]

Luján was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1972 and grew up in Nambé, a small farming community north of Santa Fe. His father, Ben Luján, was a longtime member of the New Mexico House of Representatives and its speaker, and his Senate biography says he is a Head Start graduate.[2][3][5] He graduated from Pojoaque Valley High School in 1990 and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from New Mexico Highlands University in 2007.[2][3][5]

Before entering elected office, Luján worked as director of administrative services and chief financial officer of the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department.[2][3] He served on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission from 2004 to 2008 and chaired it. His Senate biography says he worked with colleagues to develop a renewable portfolio standard for New Mexico utilities.[2][3]

Luján won the 3rd Congressional District seat in 2008, succeeding Tom Udall, and served in the U.S. House from 2009 to 2021.[2] House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi chose him in November 2014 to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, making him the first Latino selected as either party's campaign chairman. House Democrats elected him assistant majority leader for the 116th Congress, a post his Senate biography calls House Assistant Speaker.[2][3]

In 2020 Luján defeated Republican Mark Ronchetti, 51.7% to 45.6%, for the U.S. Senate seat Udall had held, and he has served in the Senate since January 2021. He sits on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Finance; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Indian Affairs; and Budget committees.[2][3] He suffered a serious stroke in 2022 that required hospitalization and surgery; he has since recovered and has advocated for stroke prevention and treatment efforts.[4] According to his Senate website, he received the James Beard Impact Award in June 2026 for his work to restore the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and he has led efforts to strengthen the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act program.[3]

  1. 1.United States Senate election in New Mexico, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Ben Ray Luján · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.About Ben · U.S. Senate, Office of Sen. Ben Ray Luján Official record
  4. 4.US Sen. Ben Ray Luján faces long-shot challenge from Republican Larry Marker in reelection bid · Albuquerque Journal News report
  5. 5.Ben Ray Luján · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Full candidate research ›U.S. Senate · New Mexico ›

Also on the ballot for this seat

Larry E. MarkerCandidateRU.S. Senate · New MexicoNew Mexico

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 21 of 829 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (12), Foreign affairs & defense (3), Technology & privacy (2)

  • Klobuchar Amdt. No. 2849; To strike a provision relating to delayed implementation of the supplemental nutrition assistance program matching funds requirements.

    A yes vote adopted Klobuchar's Amendment 2849 to H.R. 1, which would strike a provision delaying implementation of state matching-fund requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (AI-written)

    What it does: This act reduces taxes, reduces or increases spending for various federal programs, increases the statutory debt limit, and otherwise addresses agencies and programs throughout the federal government.

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 41–4, Republicans 2–49

    Jul 1, 2025Official record ↗

  • S. 1582, As Amended; A bill to provide for the regulation of payment stablecoins, and for other purposes.

    What it does: Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act or the GENIUS Act This act establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins (digital assets which an issuer must redeem for a fixed value).

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 18–26, Republicans 48–2

    Jun 17, 2025Official record ↗

  • Amdt. No. 2307; In the nature of a substitute.

    A yes vote adopted Amendment 2307, a substitute amendment that replaced the text of S. 1582, the bill to regulate payment stablecoins. (AI-written)

    What it does: Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act or the GENIUS Act This act establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins (digital assets which an issuer must redeem for a fixed value).

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 16–26, Republicans 49–2

    Jun 12, 2025Official record ↗

  • Confirmation: Troy Meink, of Virginia, to be Secretary of the Air Force

    What it does: Confirms Troy Meink as Secretary of the Air Force.

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 21–24, Republicans 51–0

    May 13, 2025Official record ↗

  • H.J.Res. 25; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Internal Revenue Service relating to "Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales".

    What it does: This joint resolution nullifies requirements for persons effectuating decentralized financial (DeFi) transactions to report certain information regarding digital asset sales to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 17–26, Republicans 51–0

    Mar 26, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Confirmation: Keith Sonderling, of F.L., to be Secretary of Labor

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Nomination

Confirms Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Confirmed 47–41·Substantive·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Cloture Motion

A yes vote ended debate (cloture) so the Senate could move to a final vote on the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor. (AI-written)

Agreed to 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9340 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 9340; A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal standard relating to the recovery of the full, incremental costs of upgrades that serve large-load customers, and for other purposes.

NoVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 9340, a bill setting a federal standard on recovering the costs of upgrades serving large-load electricity customers (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Ratepayer Protection Act The bill requires state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider implementing a standard to hold certain large-load customers responsible for the costs associated with any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade of electric service necessary to serve such customers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 57–43·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 7008 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: H.R. 7008; A bill to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes.

NoVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 7008, a bill requiring certain restrictions on stocks held by Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Stop Insider Trading Act This bill generally prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requires public notice before these individuals may sell stocks.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
S.Res. 852 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Discharge S. Res. 852; A resolution requesting information on Israel's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Discharge

A yes vote would have discharged S.Res. 852, requesting information on Israel's human rights practices under section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, from committee so the Senate could consider it. (AI-written)

As introduced, requests that the Secretary of State give Congress, within 30 days, a statement on Israel's human rights practices, including information on alleged killings of U.S. citizens by Israeli forces or settlers since 2022, Americans held in Israeli prisons and detained Palestinian children.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S.J.Res. 197 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Proceed to S.J. Res. 197; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program".

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have moved the Senate to take up S.J.Res. 197, a resolution to disapprove the CMS rule on the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and the Basic Health Program. (AI-written)

Overturns the federal health agency's 2027 rule setting payment parameters and standards for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, including insurer user fees, broker rules, hardship exemptions and catastrophic-plan options, so the rule has no legal effect.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 48–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

S. 4668, as amended; A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Passage of the Bill

Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 77–22·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6835; To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6835

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6835, which would establish certain standards for coaches of varsity sports teams. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–52·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6805; To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6805

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6805, which would increase the limit on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury coverage for student athletes. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 49–50·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6760

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

Bill summary: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 42–54·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 911 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.