Patricia A. Madrid
Encyclopedia
Patricia A. Madrid is an American
politician and the former Attorney General
for the U.S. state of New Mexico
. She is a member of the Democratic Party
.
judge in New Mexico. In 1994, she was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
as Governor Bruce King
's running mate, but lost the general election. In 1998, she became the first woman elected Attorney General of the State of New Mexico. She was re-elected in 2002.
In 2005, Madrid became the chairperson of the Conference of Western Attorneys General, which focuses on energy
, environment
and Indian gaming issues.
Madrid ran in 2006 for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
in New Mexico's 1st congressional district
. She lost to Republican
incumbent, Heather Wilson
by 875 (out of 211,000) votes. When it appeared that Senator Pete Domenici
was going to run for re-election in 2008, a Wilson-Madrid rematch was considered a strong possibility, especially considering Wilson's role in the firing of US Attorney for New Mexico David Iglesias
, but following Domenici's poll numbers dropping as a result of the scandal, it appeared Madrid may have considered running against him. When Domenici announced his retirement from the Senate and Heather Wilson
announced her candidacy for the open Senate seat, it appeared Madrid may have been facing a rematch with Wilson on the statewide level. When Democratic Congressman Tom Udall
entered the race, Madrid opted against running for the U.S. Senate.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and the former Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
for the U.S. state of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. She is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
Political career
Madrid won her first campaign in 1978 when she became the first woman elected to sit as a district courtDistrict court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
judge in New Mexico. In 1994, she was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico is an official in the state of New Mexico that ranks just below the Governor of New Mexico. The current lieutenant governor is John Sanchez.- Partial list of Lieutenant Governors of New Mexico :...
as Governor Bruce King
Bruce King
Bruce King was an American politician who served three terms as the governor of the state of New Mexico. He was a Democrat.King was born in 1924 in Stanley, New Mexico. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...
's running mate, but lost the general election. In 1998, she became the first woman elected Attorney General of the State of New Mexico. She was re-elected in 2002.
In 2005, Madrid became the chairperson of the Conference of Western Attorneys General, which focuses on energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
, environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
and Indian gaming issues.
Madrid ran in 2006 for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico District 1 of the United States House of Representatives serves the central area of New Mexico, in and around Albuquerque. The current Representative is Democrat Martin Heinrich, who became the district's first Democratic representative in 2009.-History:Until the 1968 elections, New...
. She lost to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, Heather Wilson
Heather Wilson
Heather A. Wilson , is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing from 1998 to 2009...
by 875 (out of 211,000) votes. When it appeared that Senator Pete Domenici
Pete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici is an American Republican politician, who served six terms as a United States Senator from New Mexico, from 1973 to 2009, the longest tenure in the state's history....
was going to run for re-election in 2008, a Wilson-Madrid rematch was considered a strong possibility, especially considering Wilson's role in the firing of US Attorney for New Mexico David Iglesias
David Iglesias (attorney)
David Claudio Iglesias is an American attorney from Albuquerque, New Mexico.He was appointed by President George W. Bush as the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico in August 2001 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in October 2001. He served for 6 years. He was one of eight U.S...
, but following Domenici's poll numbers dropping as a result of the scandal, it appeared Madrid may have considered running against him. When Domenici announced his retirement from the Senate and Heather Wilson
Heather Wilson
Heather A. Wilson , is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing from 1998 to 2009...
announced her candidacy for the open Senate seat, it appeared Madrid may have been facing a rematch with Wilson on the statewide level. When Democratic Congressman Tom Udall
Tom Udall
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Udall is the junior United States Senator from New Mexico and a member of the Democratic Party. He had represented as a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999. Udall was elected as the junior United States senator from New Mexico on November 4, 2008,...
entered the race, Madrid opted against running for the U.S. Senate.
Notable actions as Attorney General
- Established a Capital Litigation Unit to provide assistance to district attorneys statewide prosecuting violent crimes and death penalty cases.
- Introduced New Mexico's first state-level Crime Victim's Services Unit.
- Established the Violence Against Women unit, which received a grant for over $560,000 to provide training for first responders to domestic violenceDomestic violenceDomestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
incidents in ruralRuralRural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
New Mexico. - Established the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
- Convicted a number of individuals for the illegal dumping of rendering plant waste near irrigation ditches in violation of the state's Water Quality Act.
- Helped found the Endangered Species ActEndangered Species ActThe Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
Work Group, which brings together farmers and municipalities, federalFederal government of the United StatesThe federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
, state and environmental interests.
Awards and recognitions
- Hispanic National Bar AssociationHispanic National Bar AssociationThe Hispanic National Bar Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing Hispanics in the legal profession, including attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistant and paralegals, and law students in the United States and its territories.The current National President and...
Latina Lawyer of the Year - Mothers Against Drunk DrivingMothers Against Drunk DrivingMothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization in the United States that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy...
Annual Award for Elected Officials - New Mexico's Commission on the Status of Women Trailblazer Award
- Capital Business and Professional Women of Santa Fe Woman of the Year in Government Award
- Animal Protection of New Mexico 2004 Milagro Executive Director’s Award
- New Mexico Business Weekly three time New Mexico Power Broker