Linda M. Lopez (born March 13, 1964) is an American politician and businesswoman serving as a member of the New Mexico Senate from the 11th district. She has been in office since 1997.1
Early Life and Education: Linda Lopez was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from the College of Santa Fe. While in the legislature, she attended the University of New Mexico School of Law but dropped out when her mother fell ill.
Career: Lopez previously worked in the human resources department at Sandia National Laboratories and Albuquerque’s Presbyterian Hospital. She also owns a consulting firm based in Albuquerque.
New Mexico Senate: Lopez was first elected to the New Mexico Senate in 1996, representing a district that includes the southwest portion of Albuquerque. She has served since 1997 and is the longtime chair of the Senate Rules Committee. In addition to her legislative work, she has been the Chairman of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party from 2003 to 2004.
Policy Positions: In the Senate, Lopez has supported renewable energy mandates and a moratorium on fracking. She advocated for allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections, increased funding for early childhood education, and the use of emergency powers to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico. Lopez also voted in favor of medical marijuana and expressed support for legalizing recreational marijuana with proper oversight.
She has sponsored legislation related to body-worn cameras for law enforcement officers and has been a strong advocate for abortion rights. Lopez sponsored legislation to remove New Mexico’s 1969 anti-abortion law from the statute books.
Overall, Linda M. Lopez has been a dedicated public servant, championing various causes and serving her constituents in the New Mexico Senate for many years.
