Michelle Lujan Grisham

Michelle Lujan Grisham is the thirty-second governor of the state of New Mexico, the first Democratic Latina to be elected governor in U.S. history. A longtime state Cabinet secretary at both the New Mexico Department of Aging and Long-term Services and Department of Health, Lujan Grisham has been a leading advocate for senior citizens, veterans and the disabled as well as investments in health care infrastructure and innovative programming that has improved access and quality of care for New Mexicans across the state. She was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2011, serving three terms in Washington on behalf of New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District. As a member of Congress, she worked aggressively to support local tribes, equal pay for women, public schools, public lands and veterans’ health care; she also advocated strongly for saving and creating clean New Mexico jobs. As chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, she became a vocal, national leader in the battle against reactionary federal anti-immigrant policies. Lujan Grisham was born in Los Alamos and graduated from St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe before earning undergraduate and law degrees from the University of New Mexico. A 12th-generation New Mexican, she is the mother of two adult children and grandmother of three. She is the caretaker for her mother, Sonja. A Representative from New Mexico; born in Los Alamos, Los Alamos County, N.Mex., October 24, 1959; graduated from St. Michael’s High School, Santa Fe, N.Mex.; B.A., University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.Mex., 1981; J.D., University of New Mexico, 1987; lawyer, New Mexico state bar association; business executive; director, New Mexico state agency on aging, 1991-2002; New Mexico secretary of aging and long-term services, 2002-2004; New Mexico secretary of health, 2004-2007; unsuccessful nominee for election to the United States House of Representatives in 2008; Bernalillo County, N.Mex., board of commissioners, 2010-2012; elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress (January 3, 2013-present).