Laura M. Montoya is an American politician from

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

. A member of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

, she is the

New Mexico State Treasurer The state treasurer of New Mexico is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Thirty individuals have held the office of state treasurer since statehood. The incumbent is Tim Eichenberg, a Democra ...

Early life and career

Montoya was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She lived in both San Miguel and

Mora Mora may refer to: People * Mora (surname) Places Sweden * Mora, Säter, Sweden * Mora, Sweden, the seat of Mora Municipality * Mora Municipality, Sweden United States * Mora, Louisiana, an unincorporated community * Mora, Minnesota, a city * M ...

counties while growing up. Montoya earned a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in political science and psychology from New Mexico Highlands University. She began working in government for

state Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

Pete Campos Pete Campos (born 1954) is an American politician and educator serving as a Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate, representing the 8th District since 1991. Campos also serves as President of Luna Community College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. ...

and then worked for

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

Jeff Bingaman Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (born October 3, 1943) is an American politician who served as a United States Senator from New Mexico from 1983 to 2013, for 5 terms. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as Chairman of Committee Outreac ...

as a constituent services representative. Meanwhile, she earned a Master of Public Affairs from New Mexico Highlands University.

Political career

In 2012, Montoya was elected as the treasurer for

Sandoval County, New Mexico Sandoval County is located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,561, making it the fourth-most populous county in New Mexico. The county seat is Bernalillo. Sandoval County is part of the Albuquerque m ...

. She was reelected in 2016. In July 2019, Montoya entered the 2020 elections for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

for . She lost the Democratic Party nomination to

Teresa Leger Fernandez Teresa Isabel Leger Fernandez ( ; born July 1, 1959) is an American attorney and politician representing New Mexico's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Early life and education Leger Fernandez was born ...

. In August 2021, with

Tim Eichenberg Tim Eichenberg (born 1951) is an American politician from the state of New Mexico. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the state treasurer of New Mexico. Early life and education Eichenberg was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. H ...

prevented from running for a third term due to

term limit A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms an officeholder may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method of curbing the potenti ...

s, Montoya announced her candidacy to succeed him in the 2022 election. She faced Heather Benavidez, Eichenberg's

chief of staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...

, in the Democratic primary election. Montoya won the nomination and faced Harry Montoya, a

county commission A county commission (or a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials (county commissioners) collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States; such commissions usually comprise ...

er from

Santa Fe County Santa Fe County ( es, Condado de Santa Fe; meaning ''Holy faith'' in Spanish) is located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. As of the 2010 census, the population was 144,170, making it New Mexico's third-most populous county, after Bernalillo Cou ...

and the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

nominee, in the general election. She won the election with 53 percent of the vote.

Personal life

Montoya lives in

Rio Rancho, New Mexico Rio Rancho ( es, Río Rancho) is the most populous and only city in Sandoval County, New Mexico, Sandoval County, part of the expansive Albuquerque metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of New Mexico. A small portion of the city extends into north ...

. In March 2014, she was charged with aggravated battery after allegedly punching and biting her ex-boyfriend that February. She claimed that she acted in self-defense. The case was dismissed in June when her ex-boyfriend did not attend court.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montoya, Laura County officials in New Mexico Living people New Mexico Democrats New Mexico Highlands University alumni People from Las Vegas, New Mexico State treasurers of New Mexico Women in New Mexico politics Year of birth missing (living people)