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Susana Martinez (R)

New Mexico Governor (since January 2011)

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Why She Matters

The first Latino woman to be elected governor in the United States, Martinez is rapidly becoming an important national star for a Republican Party lacking in diversity. She is New Mexico's first female governor and her name is in the mix as a possible vice-presidential nominee in 2012.

This from The Fix’s Chris Cillizza:

“She was elected with relatively little fanfare in 2010 as the governor of New Mexico, the first Hispanic woman governor — Democrat or Republican — in the country. Romney has floated Martinez’s name as a potential vice president and the Land of Enchantment is regarded as a swing state this fall. Still, Martinez was the Dona Anna County District Attorney less than four years ago and may not yet be ready for the national spotlight.”

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Article

Gloves stay on in quiet NM Senate primary, but there’ll be a battle in November election

(The Albuquerque Journal, Pat Vasquez-Cunningham / Associated Press)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Four years ago, Heather Wilson gave up her House seat from New Mexico to make a run for a rare opening in the Senate. She lost in a bare-knuckled Republican primary. This year she has the luxury of sitting back as the Democratic successor to her House seat takes a similar gamble.

Article

NM governor, husband unhurt after small plane makes hard landing at Santa Fe airport

SANTA FE, N.M. — A spokesman for New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says she and her husband were not injured when a small private airplane carrying them to Santa Fe landed without its gears down.

 
News From Around The Web

Who's Afraid of Susana Martinez? via Town Hall

Weeding out process begins for the veepstakes (VIDEO)

N.M. Gov. Susana Martinez isn’t the only one to have receded this week as a likely Romney pick.

My new favorite Republican: Susana Martinez

(Susan Montoya Bryan / AP)

My new favorite Republican offers hard truths for the GOP on immigration.

 
News From Around The Web

Susana Martinez’s veep suicide via Salon

10 things about Deb Fischer’s win

A good candidate beats mediocre ones.

Article

NM Gov. Martinez, a potential vice presidential candidate, criticizes Romney on immigration

(Susan Montoya Bryan, File / Associated Press)

SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican often mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate but who repeatedly has denied interest, has criticized fellow Republican Mitt Romney’s stance on immigration.

Both establishment and tea party could lose in Nebraska

THE FIX | Why we’re not really in an anti-establishment primary season.

Republicans governors vs. Obamacare

Republicans governors go toe-to-toe with implementing the health reform law.

 
 

At a Glance

  • Career History: District Attorney, New Mexico 3rd Judicial District (1997-January 2011); Assistant District Attorney, New Mexico 3rd Judicial District (1986-1992)
  • Hometown: El Paso, Texas
  • Alma Mater: University of Texas at El Paso, B.A.; University of Oklahoma , J.D.
  • Spouse: Chuck Franco
 

Path To Power

Martinez grew up in a working-class Texas family. Her mother worked administrative jobs and her father was a boxer in the Marines and later, the county sheriff. When her father formed his own private security company, he charged young Susana, still a teenager, with the responsibility of patroling parking lots at bingo games. She was armed for the job and reportedly carried her own gun.

Martinez's political career began when she was elected president of her El Paso high school class. She was encouraged by her public-school teachers to pursue a career in public service. After pursuing a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, she earned her law degree in Oklahoma. Her first job was as assistant district attorney.

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The Issues

A social conservative, Martinez is against abortion rights.

She is against domestic partnerships and same-sex marriage and against adoption by same-sex couples.

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The Network

During her 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Martinez was endorsed by Mitt Romney and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

The Martinez campaign was funded in part by the Republican Governors Association and Texas couple Robert and Doylene Perry, who helped fund the 2004 Swift Boat campaign against 2004 Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Martinez has also received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of campaign contributions from gas and oil producers.

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