James Townsend (New Mexico)
James G. Townsend (Republican Party) is a member of the New Mexico State Senate, representing District 34. He assumed office on January 1, 2025. His current term ends on December 31, 2028.
Townsend (Republican Party) ran for election to the New Mexico State Senate to represent District 34. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Townsend served as state House minority leader from 2019 to 2023.
Biography
Townsend attended New Mexico State University in Carlsbad, New Mexico. His professional experience includes working for Southern Union Co., Southern Union Gas Company, Southern Union Refining Company, Navajo Refining Company, Holly Energy Partners, and UNEV Pipeline Company.[1][2]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Townsend was assigned to the following committees:
2023-2024
Townsend was assigned to the following committees:
- Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Ranking Member
- Rules and Order of Business Committee
- Taxation & Revenue Committee
2021-2022
Townsend was assigned to the following committees:
- Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee
- House Judiciary Committee
- Rules and Order of Business Committee
2019-2020
Townsend was assigned to the following committees:
- Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee
- House Judiciary Committee
- Rules and Order of Business Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations and Finance |
| • Health & Human Services |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Townsend served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Energy, Environment and Natural Resources |
| • Safety and Civil Affairs |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for New Mexico State Senate District 34
James G. Townsend won election in the general election for New Mexico State Senate District 34 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | James G. Townsend (R) | 100.0 | 14,062 |
| Total votes: 14,062 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Mexico State Senate District 34
James G. Townsend advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico State Senate District 34 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James G. Townsend | 100.0 | 2,949 |
| Total votes: 2,949 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Townsend in this election.
2022
See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent James G. Townsend won election in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James G. Townsend (R) | 100.0 | 7,038 |
| Total votes: 7,038 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent James G. Townsend advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James G. Townsend | 100.0 | 2,205 |
| Total votes: 2,205 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
No candidate advanced from the primary.
Candidate | ||
| Keith Boone (Write-in) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent James G. Townsend won election in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James G. Townsend (R) | 100.0 | 9,756 |
| Total votes: 9,756 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent James G. Townsend advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James G. Townsend | 100.0 | 3,683 |
| Total votes: 3,683 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent James G. Townsend won election in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James G. Townsend (R) | 100.0 | 6,773 |
| Total votes: 6,773 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent James G. Townsend advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James G. Townsend | 100.0 | 1,506 |
| Total votes: 1,506 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the New Mexico House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2016.
Incumbent James Townsend defeated Freddie Joe Nichols, III in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 general election.[3][4]
| New Mexico House of Representatives District 54, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  James Townsend Incumbent |
75.59% | 7,098 | |
| Independent | Freddie Joe Nichols, III | 24.41% | 2,292 | |
| Total Votes | 9,390 | |||
| Source: New Mexico Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent James Townsend ran unopposed in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 Republican primary.[5]
| New Mexico House of Representatives District 54, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | James Townsend Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the New Mexico House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 4, 2014. James Townsend defeated Pam Richardson in the Republican primary. Townsend was unchallenged in the general election.[6][7]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
James Townsend |
70.6% | 907 |
| Pam Richardson | 29.4% | 378 |
| Total Votes | 1,285 | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
James G. Townsend did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
James G. Townsend did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
James G. Townsend did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Townsend's campaign website highlighted the following issues:[8]
Committed to:
- Excerpt: "Quality education for our youth."
- Excerpt: "Sound water policies."
- Excerpt: "Fiscal Responsibility."
- Excerpt: "Support business and industry in Southeastern New Mexico."
- Excerpt: "Upholding family and community values."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2025.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2024.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2023.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2022.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2021.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2020.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2019.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Club for Growth Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Common Cause New Mexico — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2018.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2017.
- Animal Protection Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to animal welfare.
- Association of Commerce and Industry of New Mexico — Legislators are scored on their votes on economic issues.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2016.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the New Mexico State Legislature in 2015.
- Conservation Voters New Mexico — Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Townsend and his wife, Paula, have two children.[1][2]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate New Mexico State Senate District 34 |
Officeholder New Mexico State Senate District 34 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 www.jimtownsendnm.com, "About Jim," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 www.jimtownsendnm.com, "Experiecnce," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2016 general election contest/candidate list," accessed August 18, 2016
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 29, 2016
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List," accessed March 10, 2016
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official Results Primary Election - June 3, 2014," accessed July 7, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico State Legislature, "2014 Primary Election Candidates," accessed May 13, 2014
- ↑ www.jimtownsendnm.com, "Main pages," accessed May 15, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ron Griggs (R) |
New Mexico State Senate District 34 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 2015-2024 |
Succeeded by Jonathan Henry (R) |
