Susana Martinez

Susana Martinez. She is an American attorney and politician who served as the 31st Governor of New Mexico from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was the first woman to be elected governor of New Mexico and the first Hispanic female governor in the United States. Prior to her governorship, she served as the District Attorney for Doña Ana County in the Third Judicial District.

Early life and education

Susana Martinez was born in El Paso, Texas, to a family with deep roots in the border region. Her father, Jacobo "Jake" Martinez, was a U.S. Army veteran and later a deputy sheriff for El Paso County, while her mother, Paula, was an office worker. She attended Burges High School in El Paso before pursuing higher education at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science. She then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law, receiving her Juris Doctor degree and subsequently passing the New Mexico bar to begin her legal career.

Political career

Martinez's political career began in the legal arena, first working as a prosecutor in the Doña Ana County District Attorney's Office. In 1996, she was elected as the District Attorney for the Third Judicial District, which encompasses Doña Ana County, defeating incumbent Greg Valdez. She was re-elected three times, gaining a reputation as a tough prosecutor focused on crimes against children and public corruption. Her tenure as District Attorney brought her statewide recognition, leading to her decision to run for Governor of New Mexico in the 2010 election, where she defeated Diane Denish, the lieutenant governor under Bill Richardson.

Governor of New Mexico

Upon her inauguration in January 2011, Martinez became the first female governor in New Mexico's history. Her administration focused on issues such as economic development, education reform, and tax policy. She signed legislation repealing the state's policy of granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, a move that generated significant controversy. During her tenure, she worked with the New Mexico Legislature, which was often controlled by the Democratic Party, to pass balanced budgets. She also oversaw the state's response to major wildfires, including the 2012 Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire, and advocated for the expansion of the National Guard's role in border security. Martinez was re-elected in the 2014 election, defeating Attorney General Gary King.

Political positions and public image

Martinez was generally considered a fiscal conservative and a social moderate within the Republican Party. She was a vocal supporter of the death penalty and Second Amendment rights, while also advocating for reforms to the Common Core State Standards Initiative in education. She gained national prominence, delivering the Republican response to the 2012 State of the Union Address and being frequently mentioned as a potential vice-presidential candidate, including on the Romney ticket in 2012. Her public image was that of a pragmatic leader, though she faced criticism from both the left and right flanks of her party on issues like Medicaid expansion and immigration.

Post-gubernatorial career

Since leaving the Governor's Mansion in January 2019, Martinez has largely remained out of the political spotlight. She joined the board of directors for CenturyLink (now Lumen Technologies) and has been involved with various nonprofit organizations. She has also worked as a political commentator and has been affiliated with the Republican State Leadership Committee. Martinez has occasionally weighed in on state politics, endorsing candidates in U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races, but has not sought elected office again.

Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of New Mexico Category:New Mexico Republicans Category:Female state governors in the United States Category:American women lawyers