Jeff Bingaman

Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (born October 3, 1943) is an

American politician who served as a United States Senator from Jeff Bingaman
New Mexico from 1983 to 2013. A member of the Democratic
Party, he served as Chairman of Committee Outreach for the Senate
Democratic Caucus. Previously, Bingaman was Attorney General
of New Mexico from 1979 to 1983. On February 18, 2011, he
announced that he would not seek reelection in 2012.[1][2] He was
succeeded by Democratic US Representative Martin Heinrich. After
he left the Senate, he returned to his alma mater, Stanford Law
School, as a fellow of their Steyer–Taylor Center for Energy Policy
and Finance.[3]

Contents
Early life
State Attorney General Chair of the Senate Energy
U.S. Senate Committee
Committee assignments In office
Caucus memberships January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2013
Tenure Preceded by Pete Domenici
Political positions Succeeded by Ron Wyden
Immigration In office
Energy and the environment June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Social issues Preceded by Frank Murkowski
Iraq War
Succeeded by Pete Domenici
Crime and torture
In office
Health care reform
January 3, 2001 – January 20, 2001
Electoral history
Preceded by Frank Murkowski
Footnotes
Succeeded by Frank Murkowski
External links
United States Senator
from New Mexico
In office
Early life January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Harrison Schmitt
Bingaman was born in El Paso, Texas, the son of Frances Bethia
(née Ball) and Jesse Francis Bingaman.[4] He grew up in Silver Succeeded by Martin Heinrich
City, New Mexico. His father taught at Western New Mexico 25th Attorney General of New
University and his mother taught in the public schools system. At Mexico
age 15, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout.[5] The Boy Scouts of In office
America later presented Bingaman with their Distinguished Eagle January 1, 1979 – January 1, 1983
Scout Award.[6]
Governor Bruce King
After graduating from Silver High School, Bingaman went on to Preceded by Toney Anaya
earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Harvard Succeeded by Paul Bardacke
University in 1965. He then entered Stanford Law School,
graduating in 1968. He met his wife Anne Kovacovich while Personal details
attending law classes. They have one son. Born Jesse Francis
Bingaman Jr.
After his admission to the bar, Bingaman commenced work as a
October 3, 1943
private practice attorney alongside his wife. He also served as
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
counsel to the New Mexico Constitutional Convention of 1969.
From 1968 to 1974, Bingaman was a member of the U.S. Army Political party Democratic
Reserve. Spouse(s) Anne Kovacovich
Children 1 son
State Attorney General Education Harvard University
(BA)
Bingaman had worked briefly in the state attorney general's office.
Stanford University
He ran for the leadership position of this office in 1978 and was
elected. Environmental and antitrust issues were some of his biggest (JD)
concerns while in this position. Signature

U.S. Senate Military service

Allegiance United States

Committee assignments Branch/service United States

Army
Committee on Armed Services
Years of 1968–1974
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities service
Subcommittee on Personnel Unit United States Army
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Reserve
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
(Chairman)
Committee on Finance
Subcommittee on Health Care
Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure (Chairman)
Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness
Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Subcommittee on Children and Families
Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging
Joint Economic Committee

Caucus memberships
Congressional Competitiveness Caucus (Co-Chair)
International Conservation Caucus
Senate Diabetes Caucus
Tenure

In 1982, Bingaman was elected the Senate, defeating one-term

Republican incumbent Harrison Schmitt. Bingaman accused Schmitt
of not paying enough attention to local matters; his campaign slogan
was "What on Earth has he done for you lately?"—a jab at Schmitt's
previous service as an astronaut.[7] He was reelected four times.

Bingaman was Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources

Committee and a member of the Finance Committee; Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; and Joint Committee on Bingaman with President Obama in
the Economy. 2010

Generally, Bingaman kept a fairly low national profile, even though

he was the ninth most senior member of the Senate at the time of his retirement. He was very popular in New
Mexico, facing substantive opposition only once, in 1994.

Bingaman and his Senate colleague Pete Domenici were the longest-serving duo among senators in the 110th
United States Congress (2007–2009). In second place were Ted Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts.
Due to serving alongside Domenici, the longest-serving Senator in New Mexico's history, Bingaman spent 26
years as New Mexico's junior Senator, though he had more seniority than all but a few of his colleagues. Their
combined seniority gave New Mexico clout in national politics well beyond its modest population. He was the
most-senior junior senator in the 110th United States Congress.

On April 28, 2008, Bingaman endorsed Senator Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic presidential
nomination.

On December 13, 2008, Bingaman was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from New Mexico
State University at the university's Fall 2008 commencement ceremony.

On February 13, 2011, Bingaman announced he would not seek a sixth term. He formally retired on January
3, 2013, ending the second-longest Senate tenure in the state's history, behind only Domenici.

On December 31, 2018, Democratic Governor-Elect Michelle Lujan Grisham, announced that Bingaman's
son John would serve as her chief of staff. He took office on January 1, 2019.

Political positions

Immigration

Being from a border state with Mexico, Bingaman has been much involved in the debate over illegal
immigration. He believes in increased enforcement of borders to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, including
more patrol agents and the use of surveillance cameras. However, he also believes that the U.S. should enact a
guest worker program so that immigrants looking for honest work can arrive legally.[8] Bingaman voted
against the Secure Fence Act in 2006.[9] He voted against declaring English to be the official language of the
US government and voted in favor of continuing federal funds to self-declared "sanctuary cities."[9]

Energy and the environment

Throughout his political career, Bingaman has burnished a pro-environmental record. He has worked
consistently to protect wildlife and public lands. He spoke publicly about the necessity of the Clean Energy
Act of 2007, citing the importance of developing clean technology and green jobs. He stated his support for
the bill's principle of eliminating tax breaks on gas and oil companies.[10]

Since 2006, Bingaman has been working on a bill that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions via a "cap and
trade" system. He has stated that he would like to see his plan implemented so that emissions would be
reduced to 1990 levels by 2030. His bill would also increase levels of federal funding for research and
development of green technologies.[11]

Social issues

Bingaman has voted in line with the majority of his party on abortion, and he has received a 100% rating from
the pro-choice NARAL. He has voiced his support to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine.[12] Although he voted in
1996 for the Defense of Marriage Act, he voted against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay
marriage, and has been ranked favorably by gay rights groups (89% from the HRC). He has also voted twice
against a proposed amendment to ban flag desecration and has supported affirmative action.[13]

Iraq War

On October 11, 2002, Jeff Bingaman was among the 23 Senators who did not vote for authorizing the Iraq
War.[14]

Crime and torture

Bingaman has a generally pro-rehabilitation stance on crime, supporting more programs to prevent youth
crime, lower high school dropout rates, and stop drug use. Bingaman has been an outspoken critic of the U.S.
prison at Guantanamo Bay. He cites the need for due process of law for detainees by saying:

The current practice of holding detainees or prisoners indefinitely, without affording them basic
due process rights, has been widely criticized in this country and throughout the world. For a
country such as ours that has consistently advocated for the rule of law, the policies of the current
administration are nothing short of a major embarrassment ... How we handle prisoners can have
a dramatic impact on how our own men and women are treated in the event they are themselves
taken prisoner.[3] (http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalpersonalprofiles/p/SenBingaman.htm)

Health care reform

Bingaman supported President Barack Obama's health reform legislation; he voted for the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act in December 2009,[15] and he voted for the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010.[16]

Electoral history
2006 United States Senate election in New Mexico
Jeff Bingaman (D) (inc.), 70.6%
 Allen McCulloch (R), 29.3%
Orlin G. Cole, 0.06%
2000 United States Senate election in New Mexico
Jeff Bingaman (D) (inc.), 61.7%
Bill Redmond (R), 38.25%
Orlin G. Cole, 0.04%
1994 United States Senate election in New Mexico
Jeff Bingaman (D) (inc.), 53.97%
Colin R. McMillan (R), 45.99%
1988 United States Senate election in New Mexico
Jeff Bingaman (D) (inc.), 63.2%
Bill Valentine (R), 36.8%
1982 United States Senate election in New Mexico
Jeff Bingaman (D), 53.8%
Harrison Schmitt (R) (inc.), 46.2%

Footnotes
1. McPike, Erin (2011-02-18). "Jeff Bingaman to Retire" (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/
2011/02/18/jeff_bingaman_to_retire_108948.html). Real Clear Politics. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
2. Cillizza, Chris (2011-02-18). "Jeff Bingaman to retire" (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/s
enate/jeff-bingaman-to-retire.html). Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
3. Romero, Judith (1 April 2013). "Former Senator an Energy Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman to
Lead Stanford University Steyer–Taylor Center Initiative on Renewable Portfolio Standards as
Distinguished Feellow" (http://blogs.law.stanford.edu/newsfeed/2013/04/01/former-senator-and
-energy-committee-chair-jeff-bingaman-to-lead-stanford-university-steyer-taylor-center-initiative
-on-renewable-portfolio-standards-as-distinguished-fellow/). Stanford. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
4. 1 (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/bingaman.htm)
5. "About Jeff Bingaman" (https://web.archive.org/web/20061104042542/http://bingaman.senate.g
ov/about/). Jeff Bingaman, US Senator from New Mexico. Archived from the original (http://bing
aman.senate.gov/about/) on 2006-11-04. Retrieved 2006-11-07.
6. "Distinguished Eagle Scouts" (https://www.webcitation.org/6IGFoAJdW?url=http://www.scoutin
g.org/filestore/pdf/02-529.pdf) (PDF). Scouting.org. Archived from the original (http://www.scouti
ng.org/filestore/pdf/02-529.pdf) (PDF) on 2013-07-20. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
7. "40th Anniversary of Apollo 11: Moonstruck", Time Magazine, July 27, 2009 (http://www.time.co
m/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1910599_1910769_1910767-3,00.html)
8. "U.S. Senator Bingaman: Border Issues" (https://web.archive.org/web/20100804002135/http://b
ingaman.senate.gov/policy/issues/border.cfm). Bingaman.senate.gov. 2009-02-13. Archived
from the original (http://bingaman.senate.gov/policy/issues/border.cfm) on 2010-08-04.
Retrieved 2010-08-29.
9. [1] (http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/Senate/New_Mexico/Jeff_Bingaman/Views/Immig
ration/)
10. Andrews, Edmund L. (January 19, 2007). "House Votes to Rescind Oil Drillers' Tax Breaks" (htt
ps://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/19/business/19royalty.html). The New York Times. Retrieved
April 2, 2010.
11. http://www.cq.com/display.do?docid=2548853&sourcetype=6
12. "New Mexico Democrat Supports Revival of Fairness Doctrine" (http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=203
333). Breitbart.tv. 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
13. "Jeff Bingaman on the Issues" (http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Jeff_Bingaman.htm).
Ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
14. "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote" (https://www.senate.gov/le
gislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237).
Senate.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
15. [2] (https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111
&session=1&vote=00396)
16. "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote" (https://www.senate.gov/le
gislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00105).
Senate.gov. Retrieved 2010-08-29.

External links
United States Senator Jeff Bingaman (https://web.archive.org/web/20060214020034/http://bing
aman.senate.gov/) official U.S. Senate website

Biography (http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=b000468) at the

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Financial information (federal office) (https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S2NM00021) at the
Federal Election Commission

Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of New Mexico Succeeded by
Toney Anaya 1979–1983 Paul Bardacke

Party political offices

Democratic nominee for U.S.
Preceded by Senator from New Mexico Succeeded by
Joseph Montoya (Class 1) Martin Heinrich
1982, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2006

U.S. Senate
U.S. Senator (Class 1) New Mexico
Preceded by 1983–2013 Succeeded by
Harrison Schmitt Served alongside: Pete Domenici, Tom Martin Heinrich
Udall

Chair of the Senate Energy

Succeeded by
Committee
Frank Murkowski
Preceded by 2001
Frank Murkowski Chair of the Senate Energy
Succeeded by
Committee
Pete Domenici
2001–2003
Chair of the Senate Energy
Preceded by Succeeded by
Committee
Pete Domenici Ron Wyden
2007–2013

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