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| Senator Mark Udall | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mark Udall |
| Office | United States Senator from Colorado |
| Term start | January 3, 2009 |
| Term end | January 3, 2015 |
| Predecessor | Wayne Allard |
| Successor | Cory Gardner |
| Birth name | Mark Emery Udall |
| Birth date | July 18, 1950 |
| Birth place | Tucson, Arizona |
| Party | Democratic |
| Parents | (father) Mo Udall |
| Relatives | (cousin) Tom Udall |
Senator Mark Udall is an American politician and member of the Udall political family who represented Colorado in the United States Senate from 2009 to 2015. He served previously in the United States House of Representatives and the Colorado House of Representatives, and is known for his work on issues including environmental conservation, energy policy, and civil liberties. Born in Tucson, Arizona, he is the son of Representative Mo Udall and a cousin of Senator Tom Udall.
Udall was born in Tucson, Arizona to Mo Udall and Liddy Udall and raised in a family active in American politics; his father represented Arizona's 2nd congressional district and sought the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1976. He attended Phoenix College and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he participated in campus activities and was influenced by regional issues such as water rights tied to the Colorado River. He later studied at the University of Colorado Law School for a time but focused his early career on natural resource and outdoor education, engaging with organizations like Rocky Mountain National Park stakeholders and regional conservation groups.
Udall's initial elected office was in the Colorado House of Representatives, where he represented suburban constituencies and worked on issues affecting Boulder County and the Denver metropolitan area. In the state legislature he connected with figures from the Colorado Democratic Party, coordinated with local officials including Boulder County Commissioners and collaborated on policy matters overlapping with institutions such as the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and municipal authorities in Fort Collins and Longmont. His legislative themes intersected with regional debates involving the Colorado River Compact and federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management.
Udall was elected to represent Colorado's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, succeeding Representative David Skaggs and later collaborating with colleagues including Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, and John Boehner on committee work. In the House he served on committees with jurisdiction over energy and natural resources, engaging with legislation that involved the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and federal land management policy connected to places such as the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. He worked with advocacy organizations like the Sierra Club and federal officials in matters touching Yellowstone National Park and national conservation programs.
Elected to the United States Senate in 2008, Udall joined a class with senators including Claire McCaskill and Kirsten Gillibrand and served alongside Colorado colleague Michael Bennet. In the Senate he sat on committees that overlapped with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary, engaging with legislation affecting the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and energy initiatives involving the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and federal research partnerships. He worked with senators from both parties such as Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, Barbara Boxer, and John McCain on varied measures related to public lands and privacy policy including debates involving the Patriot Act and oversight of intelligence agencies like the National Security Agency.
Udall's record emphasized environmental protection, renewable energy, and civil liberties. He supported measures to protect public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service, backed incentives tied to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and policies advancing the Department of Energy's clean energy programs, and advocated for wildlife protections affecting species under the Endangered Species Act. On privacy he criticized surveillance practices revealed by Edward Snowden and engaged in oversight alongside senators such as Ron Wyden and Mark Warner. He voted on major bills including the Affordable Care Act, took positions on trade matters intersecting with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, and supported campaign finance reforms related to decisions like Citizens United v. FEC.
Udall ran for re-election in 2014 against Cory Gardner, facing a competitive contest influenced by national trends and state dynamics including the Energy sector in Colorado and voter concerns in urban centers like Denver and rural areas across the Front Range. The campaign drew attention from national committees such as the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, featured debates over health care policy and energy production, and involved endorsements from figures such as President Barack Obama and activists aligned with groups like the League of Conservation Voters. He was defeated in the general election, a result shaped by turnout patterns in counties including Jefferson County, Colorado and El Paso County, Colorado, and subsequent analysis referenced polling from organizations like Gallup and election authorities in the Colorado Secretary of State.
After leaving the Senate, Udall engaged with nonprofit organizations, environmental groups, and policy forums that included institutions like the Rocky Mountain Institute and think tanks addressing energy and conservation. He returned to activities in Colorado and continued participation in civic matters alongside family members active in public service such as Tom Udall and the legacy of Mo Udall. Udall resides in Boulder, Colorado and has been involved with outdoor recreation communities, regional water policy discussions tied to the Colorado River Basin, and public speaking at universities including the University of Colorado Boulder and policy events hosted by organizations like the Wilson Center.
Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from Colorado Category:Udall family