Senator Lujan

He has a new plum committee assignment but until he confirms strongly and clearly that he is seeking re-election in 2026 some mystery will surround Senator Ben Ray Lujan.

The 52 year old appears fairly well-positioned for a second term effort, reporting $1.14 million in campaign cash at the end of September 

And that new committee slot he nabbed is on Senate Finance, an important panel dealing with high-profile issues: 

The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to: taxation and other revenue measures, tariff and import quotas, health programs under the Social Security Act, including Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other health and human services programs financed by a specific tax or trust fund; and national social security.

It is not his political health that is in question for Lujan but his personal health is still talked about. 

Just two years into his first term, in January of 2022, he suffered a major stroke that came perilously close to stopping him from serving. But he recovered after intense therapy and resumed his Senate duties, putting to rest speculation that he would not complete his six year term. 

Now he is "in cycle" for the '26 election and all systems appear to be go but the breathtaking pace that Lujan's supporters expected when he arrived in the Senate after five peripatetic terms in the House and that saw him become a major player may have been slowed by his health setback. 

MORE SUBDUED

Few insiders will go on the record but they do note that this is a more subdued Lujan post-stroke. He gets around the state but without much attention. His legislative interests are widespread and he has yet to focus on a specific area that is a common path among Senators. In the House he became a a master of Democratic electoral politics, assisting his colleagues in securing election wins across the nation. 

For example, in taking note of his membership on Senate Finance Lujan painted a broad brush without mentioning any singularity of purpose:

“As a member of the Finance Committee, I will continue my efforts to protect New Mexicans’ access to health care and to lower prescription drug costs. I will fight to protect Social Security so that our seniors can retire in dignity, and push for a fair tax code that provides middle-class New Mexicans with tax relief. I will also work to advance and promote policies that create opportunities for New Mexican businesses and workers.” 

ANALYZING THE OUTLOOK 

There is just enough ambiguity about the Senator that Republicans see an opening albeit a very narrow one. 

During his stroke and recovery Lujan's office was reticent in offering information to the point that their stance was targeted for public criticism. When it became clear that he had recovered, the questions abated but will likely be brought up again if he seeks re-election--either subtly or openly. 

In Lujan's 2020 campaign, an effort described by political pros as not up to his abilities, Lujan scored a 6.11 percent win over Republican Mark Ronchetti after spending $9.4 million compared to Ronchetti's $3.9 million, according to OpenSecrets.

This time there is no major name lurking to take on Lujan--at least not yet--leaving him to attend to his duties with little pressure. 

His naming to Senate Finance again gives rise to hopes that the state's first Hispanic Senator since the 1970's will get on the fast track as he did in the House and forge a path that could eventually lead to leadership.

There is reason for patience. Even a politician coming into the Senate with the House background Lujan has is not expected to light up the night during his maiden term. 

Meantime the technical start of Campaign '26 begins quite benignly for the Santa Fe native. His voting record, while liberal, is not full blown "woke" in a blue state that still likes their senators to be comfortable in the middle as well as the left. 

For Lujan high expectations after a triumphant tenure in the House is his main opponent.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.