Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Michael Sanchez (New Mexico)
Michael S. Sanchez (b. August 3, 1950) is a former Democratic member of the New Mexico State Senate, representing District 29 from 1993 to 2017. He served as majority floor leader.
Sanchez was Chair for the Valencia County Democratic Party from 1986 to 1992. He has been Grant County Clerk since 1993.
Biography
Sanchez earned his B.A. from the University of New Mexico in 1973 and his J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1976. His professional experience includes working as an attorney for Raymond G. Sanchez from 1972 to 1982, and as an attorney for Michael G. Sanchez from 1982 to the present.
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sanchez served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Committees', Vice chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Sanchez served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Committees', Vice chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sanchez served on these committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Committees', Vice chair |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sanchez served on these committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Committees' |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules |
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
2016
- See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the New Mexico State Senate 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.
Gregory A. Baca defeated incumbent Michael Sanchez in the New Mexico State Senate District 29 general election.[1][2]
| New Mexico State Senate District 29, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Gregory A. Baca |
54.96% | 8,965 | |
| Democratic | Michael Sanchez Incumbent | 45.04% | 7,348 | |
| Total Votes | 16,313 | |||
| Source: New Mexico Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Michael Sanchez ran unopposed in the New Mexico State Senate District 29 Democratic primary.[3]
| New Mexico State Senate District 29, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Michael Sanchez Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Gregory A. Baca ran unopposed in the New Mexico State Senate District 29 Republican primary.[4]
| New Mexico State Senate District 29, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Gregory A. Baca (unopposed) | |
This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »
This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »
2012
- See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2012
Sanchez ran for re-election in 2012. He ran unopposed in the June 5, 2012, Democratic primary. He defeated David Chavez in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Sanchez Incumbent |
55.4% | 9,001 | |
| Republican | David C. Chavez | 44.6% | 7,237 | |
| Total Votes | 16,238 | |||
2008
- See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, Sanchez was re-elected to District 29 in the New Mexico Senate. Sanchez had no challenger.[7]
Sanchez raised $112,799 for his campaign.[8]
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 New Mexico scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2016
- Conservation Voters New Mexico: 2015-2016 Scorecard
- Legislators are scored on environmental and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation: NM Freedom Index 2016
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 52nd New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 20 through March 21.[9]
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 51st New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 21 through February 20.[9]
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 51st New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 15 to March 16.[9]
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 50th New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 17 through February 16.[9]
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 50th New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 18 through March 19.[10]
|
Issues
Criticism of party chairman
In January 2014, Sanchez criticized the party chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico for singling out and criticizing a fellow state senator, John Arthur Smith.[11] The party chairman criticized Smith for not holding a hearing on a plan to use the state’s $12 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund to pay for early childhood education, a plan opposed by Smith but supported by the party chairman. Sanchez did not mention the chairman by name but criticized the party chairman for “insinuating that (Smith) wasn’t a true Democrat, insinuating that he should change parties, insinuating and threatening a primary challenge for him.”[11] “The Democratic Party is always a big tent, whether you’re ultra liberal, ultra conservative, whatever you are,” Sanchez said. “For some member of our party to try to embarrass one of our Democratic members is not right … No party should tell us what or how we should vote on this floor … I’m embarrassed that it happened and I want to apologize for those remarks to the senator it was made to … He’s my friend and a strong Democrat … There’s no place for that on this floor.”[11]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sanchez and his wife, Lynn, have three children.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Michael + Sanchez + New + Mexico + Senate
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
- New Mexico State Senate
- Senate Committees
- New Mexico State Legislature
- New Mexico state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Voting record from New Mexico Votes.org
- Michael Sanchez on Facebook
- Campaign contributions via Follow the Money
Footnotes
- ↑ 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, "2016 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List," accessed March 10, 2016
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Candidate List," accessed May 12, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2008 General Election results," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Report on 2008 campaign contributions," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 New Mexico Legislature, "Session dates," accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014 (Archived)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 WatchDog.org, "NM Democrats continue infighting," accessed January 23, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
New Mexico State Senate District 29 1993–2017 |
Succeeded by Gregory A. Baca (R) |
 |
State of New Mexico Santa Fe (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
