Hector P. Balderas

Hector P. Balderas
Name	Hector P. Balderas
Office	31st Attorney General of New Mexico
Term start	January 1, 2015
Term end	January 1, 2023
Predecessor	Gary King
Successor	Raúl Torrez
Birth date	July 7, 1973
Birth place	Dallas, Texas
Party	Democratic
Alma mater	New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico School of Law

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Hector P. Balderas is an American attorney and politician who served as the 31st Attorney General of New Mexico and previously served as New Mexico State Auditor and a member of the New Mexico State Senate. He has been involved in litigation and public policy on issues including consumer protection, environmental enforcement, and criminal justice, interacting with institutions such as the United States Department of Justice, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Balderas's career has connected him with leaders and entities like Michelle Lujan Grisham, Bill Richardson, Susana Martinez, Tom Udall, and Jeff Bingaman through electoral and legal contexts.

Early life and education

Balderas was born in Dallas, Texas and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico and his upbringing connected him to communities represented by figures such as Pete Domenici, Ben Luján, Heather Wilson, Bill Richardson, and Tom Udall. He attended New Mexico State University where he studied alongside peers involved with organizations like the New Mexico Young Democrats, Hispanic National Bar Association, League of United Latin American Citizens, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and campus chapters of AmeriCorps. Balderas earned a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where he engaged with clinics and programs linked to American Civil Liberties Union, Legal Aid Society, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, New Mexico Supreme Court, and law faculty associated with figures such as Sergio Segura and Raymond G. Sanchez.

Balderas began his legal career as a prosecutor and civil litigator with roles connected to offices like the Bernalillo County District Attorney, Office of the Attorney General of New Mexico, United States Attorney's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Homeland Security. He served as a federal prosecutor collaborating with judges and litigants who appeared before the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, interacting with attorneys from the American Bar Association, Legal Services Corporation, New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and private firms that represented clients such as Pueblo of Laguna and Navajo Nation. His litigation involved regulatory matters before agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission.

Balderas served in the New Mexico State Senate where he worked on legislation with lawmakers including Tim Keller, Dina Titus, Richard C. Martinez, Phil Griego, and Said A. F., and committee collaborations that involved the New Mexico Legislature, Legislative Finance Committee, Taxation and Revenue Department (New Mexico), and advocacy groups such as Planned Parenthood, National Rifle Association, AARP, and American Civil Liberties Union. He was elected New Mexico State Auditor where his audits intersected with entities like the New Mexico Public Education Department, University of New Mexico, New Mexico Department of Health, Indian Health Service, and state agencies overseen by governors Bill Richardson and Susana Martinez. Balderas built electoral coalitions linking him to national organizations including the Democratic National Committee, Hispanic Caucus, Working Families Party, and local stakeholder groups like the New Mexico Federation of Labor.

As Attorney General of New Mexico, Balderas led litigation and enforcement actions involving multi-state coalitions with attorneys general from states such as California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois, coordinating with federal partners like the Department of Justice and litigating against corporations represented before the United States Supreme Court, Tenth Circuit, and state trial courts. His office pursued cases concerning energy and environment that implicated the Oil and Gas Association, Pueblo of Acoma, Zuni Tribe, Environmental Protection Agency, and companies in sectors overseen by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division. He engaged in consumer protection enforcement against entities regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and insurance matters involving the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance.

Balderas prioritized criminal justice issues linking him to entities such as the New Mexico Correctional Department, American Civil Liberties Union, Sentencing Project, Bureau of Prisons, and local district attorneys including the Bernalillo County District Attorney. On environmental policy he coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency, New Mexico Environment Department, tribal governments like the Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache Nation, renewable energy stakeholders such as Xcel Energy, PNM Resources, Solar Energy Industries Association, and national advocates including Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council. In consumer protection and antitrust he worked with state attorneys general from California, Texas, and Illinois and federal partners like the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, addressing issues raised by corporations represented before the Federal Trade Commission and United States Court of Appeals.

Balderas's campaigns for New Mexico State Senate, New Mexico State Auditor, and Attorney General of New Mexico involved primary and general election contests with opponents connected to Republican Party (United States), Democratic Party (United States), municipal leaders such as Mayor of Albuquerque, state figures like Gary King, Timothy Keller, Susana Martinez, and political organizations including the Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, Working Families Party, and labor unions such as the New Mexico Federation of Labor.

Balderas is married and has family ties in Santa Fe County, New Mexico and affiliations with civic and professional organizations such as the Hispanic National Bar Association, State Bar of New Mexico, National Association of Attorneys General, League of United Latin American Citizens, and community groups linked to Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and tribal nations including the Pueblo of Isleta and Pueblo of Sandia. Category:People from Santa Fe, New Mexico