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Mimi Stewart
2015 - Present
2028
10
Mimi Stewart (Democratic Party) is a member of the New Mexico State Senate, representing District 17. She assumed office in 2015. Her current term ends on December 31, 2028.
The New Mexico State Senate voted to elect Stewart Senate president pro tempore in January 2021.[1]
Stewart was born in Sarasota, Florida.[2] Stewart received a bachelor's degree in sociology and history in 1971 from Boston College and a master's in education in 1977 from Wheelock College.[2][3] Following her graduation, Stewart began teaching in K-12 schools. She worked as a special education teacher in Albuquerque Public Schools, in New Mexico, from 1978 to 2009.[3][2]
Stewart won election to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1994, beginning her career in politics. She served in the House for 20 years. She ran unopposed in the primary and general elections in 2014, the last time she won re-election to that chamber. In December 2014, Bernalillo County commissioners voted 3-2 to appoint Stewart to represent New Mexico State Senate District 17, replacing Tim Keller, who was elected state auditor.[4] Stewart ran unopposed in 2016 and defeated Rodney Deskin (R) 66-34% in 2020. She ran unopposed in the primary and general elections in 2024.
Before she was elected Senate president, Stewart served as the majority whip from 2018 to 2021.[5][6]
Stewart has focused on K-12 education, the environment, criminal justice, and abortion.[7] Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) endorsed Stewart in 2024, saying, "She's been critical to the moonshot investments in moving New Mexico's education forward so that it is meeting the needs of every New Mexico student."[8] Stewart said, "As a retired classroom teacher, I have always made student success and teaching excellence my top priorities."[8] Stewart said she "served on the Water and Natural Resources Committee, which is where I became interested in water and the environment. I’ve always been an environmentalist."[9] In 2025, Stewart sponsored four bills related to reducing carbon emissions and investing in renewable energy projects: "When we reduce pollution, we’re not just protecting the environment—we’re protecting families, creating good-paying jobs, and investing in the safety and resilience of our communities.”[10][11]
Describing the evolution of her approach to bipartisanship since becoming Senate president, Stewart said, "I’m kind of proud of myself for going from, I don’t need to talk to those Republicans to, I like them and respect them and want to work with them, even though I disagree with them politically about eighty percent of the time."[9]
Biography
Stewart earned her B.A. from Boston University in 1971 and her M.S. from Wheelock College in 1977. Her professional experience includes working as a special education teacher in the Albuquerque Public School system.[12]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Stewart was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Stewart was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Stewart was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education, Vice chair |
| • Public Affairs |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Stewart served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Corporations and Transportation |
| • Public Affairs |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Stewart served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Stewart served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Health and Government Affairs, Chair |
| • Judiciary |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Stewart served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Health and Government Affairs |
| • Judiciary |
| • Rules and Order of Business |
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.
Noteworthy legislation
Below is a list of noteworthy legislation sponsored by this individual, including legislation that received substantial media attention, was part of a national trend or debate, or may be considered a noteworthy part of the individual's career.
- Senate Bill 83 (2025): Stewart sponsored SB 83, which provided state agencies $10 million to support efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed the bill on April 7, 2025.
Elections
2024
See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for New Mexico State Senate District 17
Incumbent Mimi Stewart won election in the general election for New Mexico State Senate District 17 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mimi Stewart (D) | 100.0 | 9,117 |
| Total votes: 9,117 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 17
Incumbent Mimi Stewart advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 17 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mimi Stewart | 100.0 | 1,604 |
| Total votes: 1,604 | |||
| = 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 Stewart in this election.
2020
See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for New Mexico State Senate District 17
Incumbent Mimi Stewart defeated Rodney Deskin in the general election for New Mexico State Senate District 17 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mimi Stewart (D) | 65.8 | 8,741 |
| Rodney Deskin (R) | 34.2 | 4,550 | ||
| Total votes: 13,291 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 17
Incumbent Mimi Stewart defeated Shannon Robinson in the Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 17 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mimi Stewart | 67.5 | 2,247 |
| Shannon Robinson | 32.5 | 1,083 | ||
| Total votes: 3,330 | |||
| = 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 17
Rodney Deskin advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico State Senate District 17 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Rodney Deskin | 100.0 | 1,308 | |
| Total votes: 1,308 | |||
| = 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
Stewart received the following endorsements:
- LEAP Forward[13]
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.
Incumbent Mimi Stewart ran unopposed in the New Mexico State Senate District 17 general election.[14][15]
| New Mexico State Senate District 17, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Mimi Stewart Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 8,456 | |
| Total Votes | 8,456 | |||
| Source: New Mexico Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Mimi Stewart defeated Shannon Robinson in the New Mexico State Senate District 17 Democratic primary.[16]
| New Mexico State Senate District 17, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Mimi Stewart Incumbent |
58.58% | 1,745 | |
| Democratic | Shannon Robinson | 41.42% | 1,234 | |
| Total Votes | 2,979 | |||
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. Incumbent Mimi Stewart was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[17][18]
2012
Stewart ran for re-election in 2012. She ran unopposed in the June 5, 2012, Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[19][20]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mimi Stewart Incumbent |
100% | 4,961 | |
| Total Votes | 4,961 | |||
2010
Stewart won re-election to District 21 in 2010. She had no primary opposition and defeated Antoinette Baca (R) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[21]
| New Mexico House of Representatives General Election, District 21 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Mimi Stewart (D)
|
3,113 | 52.00% | ||
| Antoinette Marie Baca (R) | 2,869 | 48.00% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Stewart won re-election to District 21 in the New Mexico House of Representatives, defeating Howard De La Cruz-Bancroft (R).[22]
| New Mexico House of Representatives, District 21 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Mimi Stewart (D)
|
6,015 | |||
| Howard De La Cruz-Bancroft (R) | 2,912 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mimi Stewart did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Mimi Stewart did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Stewart's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Mimi Stewart's Economic Goals for the Future:
Mimi Stewart's plan for Education:
Mimi Stewart's Plan for Health Care:
|
” |
| —Mimi Stewart, [24] | ||
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.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 16 to February 15. A special session was held on July 18, 2024.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 17 to March 18.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 18 to February 17.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 19 to March 20.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 21 to February 20.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the New Mexico State Legislature was in session from January 15 through March 16.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the 53rd New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 16 through February 15.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 53rd New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 17 through March 18, 2018.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 52nd New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 20 through March 21.[25]
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 51st New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 21 through February 20.[25]
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 51st New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 15 to March 16.[25]
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 50th New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 17 through February 16.[25]
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 50th New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 18 through March 19.[26]
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Issues
Lawsuit against Gov. Martinez
Mimi Stewart (D), Henry Saavedra (D), John Arthur Smith (D), and “Lucky” Varela (D) filed two lawsuits against Gov. Susana Martinez (R) over her line-item vetoes in an unemployment bill and a housing bill.
Raul Burciaga, the director of the Legislative Council Service, told committee members of the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) May 19, 2011, that in his opinion two line-item vetoes made by Gov. Martinez violate the state’s constitution. "Some of the governor’s vetoes seem to impinge on the legislature’s appropriation powers and plow new ground in a governor’s exercise of the veto authority,” said Burciaga. That day, Gov. Martinez firmly said she disagreed. Sen. Stuart Ingle (R) said, "I could protest any governor doing this … it’s not partisan. She’s a good governor … but it’s a little bit of stretch to do this."
Burciaga testifed that the veto Martinez made in unemployment bill H.B. 59 a part of a revenue bill and "did not authorize the expenditure of state money because that authorization was already in statute and not amended in this bill.” Burciaga said the veto is “unconstitutional and, hence, unenforceable."
The second veto came when Gov. Martinez reduced an appropriation the legislature made to budget bill H.B. 2 from $150,000 to $50,000. Burciaga said that while state courts have not addressed the issue specifically, reducing “an item of appropriation is a legislative function that the governor has no power to do.”[27][28]
The New Mexico Supreme Court held that the partial veto was invalid. The court found that, "because the effect of the veto was to exempt most employers from making what would otherwise be mandatory contributions to the unemployment compensation fund for calendar year 2012, the Supreme Court held that the partial veto was invalid. The Court therefore issued a writ of mandamus to order that House Bill 59 be reinstated as passed by the Legislature."[29]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Stewart and her husband, David, have two children.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate New Mexico State Senate District 17 |
Officeholder New Mexico State Senate District 17 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Albuquerque Journal, "Mimi Stewart wins election to top NM Senate post," (archived) January 19, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 VoteSmart, "Mimi Stewart's Biography," June 8, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Water Matters!, "Mimi Stewart: Her Life, Career, & Contributions," accessed June 8, 2025
- ↑ Albuquerque Journal, "County Commission appoints Stewart to NM Senate," December 4, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Political Report, "Mimi Stewart elected Senate majority whip," January 15, 2018
- ↑ LegiStorm, "New Mexico State Sen. Mimi Stewart," accessed June 8, 2025
- ↑ Albuquerque Journal, "Q&A: Senate District 17 Mimi Stewart," May 5, 2020
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mimi Stewart 2024 campaign website, "Homepage," accessed June 8, 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Center for Effective Lawmaking, "Discussing Effective Lawmaking with New Mexico State Senator Mimi Stewart," June 8, 2025
- ↑ Los Alamos Daily Post, "Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart Introduces Clear Horizons Act To Protect New Mexico’s Future," January 27, 2025
- ↑ Protect Earth Newsmagazine, "New Mexico Senate Pro-Tem Mimi Stewart's four bills to address the climate crisis has 25 organization coalition backing," January 30, 2025
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia via email on May 12, 2020.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Candidate List," accessed May 13, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2010 General Election results," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General Election Results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Mimi Stewart, "Issues," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 New Mexico Legislature, "Session dates," accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014 (Archived)
- ↑ Capitol Report New Mexico, "Lawmakers file suit over Susana vetoes," accessed May 26, 2011
- ↑ Capitol Report New Mexico, "Legislative director says two vetoes from Susana are unconstitutional," accessed May 19, 2011
- ↑ Justia US Law, "State of NM ex rel Stewart v. Martinez," accessed June 27, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
New Mexico State Senate District 17 2015-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
New Mexico House of Representatives District 21 1995-2014 |
Succeeded by - |
