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Jeff Bingaman
Junior Senator from New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1983– Serving with Pete Domenici
Preceded by	Harrison Schmitt
Succeeded by	Incumbent (2013)
Born	October 03, 1943 (age 63) El Paso, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Anne Kovacovich Bingaman
Religion	Methodist

Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (born October 3, 1943) is the junior U.S. Senator from New Mexico. He has been in the Senate since 1983 and is a member of the Democratic Party. Bingaman was Attorney General of New Mexico from 1978 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1982, when he defeated Republican incumbent and former astronaut Harrison Schmitt. He was re-elected in 1988, 1994 (defeating Colin McMillan), 2000, and 2006.

Bingaman was born in El Paso, Texas to Frances Bethia Ball and Jesse Francis Bingaman.^[1] He grew up in Silver City, New Mexico. His father taught at Western New Mexico University and his mother taught in the public schools system. At age 15, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Bingaman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Harvard University in 1965. He then entered Stanford Law School, graduating in 1968.

Bingaman is married to Anne Kovacovich Bingaman; they have one child. He practiced law with his wife in New Mexico before being elected as New Mexico Attorney General in 1978.

Sen. Bingaman meets with Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito prior to his confirmation hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Bingaman is Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Finance Committee; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; and Joint Committee on the Economy.

Bingaman and his senate colleague Pete Domenici are the longest-serving duo among current Senators. The next longest are Edward Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Being from a border state, Bingaman has been much involved in the debate over illegal immigration. He believes in increased enforcement of borders to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, and that the U.S. should enact a guest worker program.

Main article: New Mexico United States Senate election, 2006

Bingaman faced no opposition in the June 6, 2006 primary. The Republican primary was won by Allen McCulloch, a urologist and former chemical engineer. Bingaman won a landslide re-election, defeating his opponent by more than a 40 point margin.

2006 New Mexico United States Senatorial Election

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• United States Senator Jeff Bingaman official Senate site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission - Jeff Bingaman campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues - Jeff Bingaman issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org - Jeff Bingaman campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Jeff Bingaman (WA) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia - Jeff Bingaman profile
• Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Jeff Bingaman voting record
• About.com - Jeff Bingaman profile