Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), first elected to the US Senate in 1982, decided that 5 terms in the Senate was enough and would not seek reelection in 2012. This left an open Senate seat in New Mexico – a state that has grown increasingly blue since Bingaman was first elected. US Rep. Martin Heinrich defeated State Auditor Hector Balderas in the Democratic Primary and then went on to defeat Republican Heather Wilson in the General Election 51% to 45%. Heinrich was born in Fellon, Nevada and went to school at the University of Missouri and took graduate classes at the University of New Mexico. Heinrich then went to work for a nonprofit in New Mexico before he founded his own Public Affairs Consulting Firm. Heinrich’s first foray into politics came when he was elected to Albuquerque City Council in 2002. He quickly became a leader in in the city’s politics serving as City Council President in 2006. Also in that year, he was appointed as the state’s Natural Resource Trustee. In 2008, he made the decision to run for congress and was elected to serve the people of NM-1. As a freshman Congressman, he was elected president of the class.
Heinrich has a solid liberal record except for the issue of Gun Control. He has previously stated opposition to reinstating the Assault Weapons Ban along with receiving the endorsement of NRA in 2010. On the other hand, he has a 100% rating from NARAL and a 0% from Right to Life. He considers himself a lifelong environmentalist. He has come out in support of Gay Marriage along with an original co-sponsor of the repeal of DOMA. He wants to end the war in Afghanistan immediately as well. He wants to end the war in Afghanistan immediately as well.
Tim Kaine
One term Virginia Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) in retiring rather than seeking reelection in 2012. Virginia is a major swing state that has been growing more and more blue because of a population boom taking place in the DC suburbs, this helped make this race a key hold for the democrats to maintain control of the Senate. Webb’s 2006 opponent then incumbent Senator George Allen again was the Republican nominee while the democratic nominee was Tim Kaine. Kaine won the election. He was raised in Kansas City, then attended the University of Missouri for a B.A. in economics and Harvard Law School for his J.D. He moved to Virginia where he was a lawyer in private practice for 18 years specializing in real estate law. Kaine’s first foray into the world of politics was his election to Richmond City Council from there he successfully ran for mayor and then Lieutenant Governor. In 2005, he successfully ran for governor. As governor, Kaine became a national political figure, but decided not to run for a second term at the behest of President Obama, who wanted Kaine to become chair of the DNC. As chair of the DNC, he successfully saw the expansion of Organizing for America. OFA was instrumental in the Wisconsin Anti-Union protest and was largely responsible for reelecting the President.
Martin Heinrich (Left) and Tim Kaine (Right)
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