Martin Heinrich’s election to the Senate gives the Democrat a new platform to pursue his top issues: energy independence and environmental conservation.
“Our nation faces a tremendous challenge in our need to reverse climate change and to lead the world in clean energy technology,” said Mr. Heinrich in a statement for the League of Conservation Voters during the campaign. “Here in New Mexico, we already know the potential for clean energy to create jobs and jumpstart our economy. Through American ingenuity and the right policies we can unleash the full potential of this growing industry and put even more Americans to work building the clean energy economy.”
With an engineering background, Senator Heinrich favors innovation as the solution to the country’s energy problems, which he discussed with Energy Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D) of Oregon, according to the Hill. On Dec. 12, the Democratic leadership assigned Heinrich to the Energy Committee as well as the Intelligence and Joint Economic committees.
Heinrich told The Hill that he sees New Mexico’s federal research laboratories as potential innovation hubs, going beyond their current role in promoting nuclear deterrence.
His main rival, Republican Heather Wilson, described Heinrich as “an extreme environmental candidate” in an interview with the Washington Post. She pointed to his two-term record in the House of Representatives during which he supported cap-and-trade policies and opposed the construction of the Keystone pipeline.
During the campaign, Heinrich received donations from environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Conservation Voters of New Mexico, and Defenders of Wildlife. These groups also funded ads against Ms. Wilson, whom Heinrich beat 51 percent to 45.5 percent on Election Day.
Joining fellow Democratic Sen. John Udall, Heinrich benefitted from President Obama’s ground game in the state, especially among Hispanic voters. New Mexico voters went for Mr. Obama over Mitt Romney by almost 10 points, 52.9 percent to 43 percent.
“When a lot of folks were running away from the president in 2010, we hosted him in the South Valley,” Heinrich told the Washington Post. “There was so much enthusiasm. It is very hard for Republicans to overcome those demographics in a presidential election year.”
Before being elected to the House in 2008, Heinrich served as the state’s natural resources trustee. From 2003 to 2007, he was a member of Albuquerque’s city council, serving one year as president.
