James G. Townsend Explained

Jim Townsend
Office:Minority Leader of the New Mexico House of Representatives
Term Start:March 14, 2024
Term End:April 5, 2024
Acting
Predecessor:T. Ryan Lane
Successor:Rod Montoya
Term Start1:January 15, 2019
Term End1:January 17, 2023
Predecessor1:Nate Gentry
Successor1:T. Ryan Lane
State House2:New Mexico
District2:54th
Term Start2:January 2015
Predecessor2:William Gray
Birth Place:Carlsbad, New Mexico, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Paula
Children:2

James G. Townsend (born 1954/1955)[1] is an American politician, currently serving as a member New Mexico House of Representatives, where he represents the 54th district.[2]

Early life and education

Townsend was born and raised in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Career

Townsend worked several jobs in the energy sector, including as director of Holly Energy Partners, a subsidiary of HollyFrontier, from 2012 to 2017. Townsend was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2016 and became Minority Leader at the start of the 2019 legislative session. An opponent of abortion, Townsend voted against House Bill 51, which attempted to repeal an old New Mexico law that makes it a crime to perform an abortion.[3] [4]

In 2022, Townsend obstructed the New Mexico legislature from passing voting reform legislation. The legislation would have allowed people to sign up once to receive absentee ballots in future elections; restored the voting rights of felons; and required every county to provide a minimum of two ballot drop boxes.[5]

Townsend served as the House minority leader from 2019 to 2023. Following the resignation of his successor T. Ryan Lane in March 2024 Townsend assumed the position of acting minority leader.[6]

External links

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Notes and References

  1. https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/2018/11/19/gop-state-house-members-elect-leadership/2057054002/
  2. Web site: Jim Townsend's Biography . Vote Smart . February 12, 2020.
  3. Web site: Anti-abortion rallies mark second day of legislative session. January 22, 2020. Santa Fe New Mexican. February 13, 2020.
  4. Web site: James Townsend (New Mexico). Ballotpedia. en. 2020-04-20.
  5. Web site: Procedural clashes erupt at Capitol, slow bill action - Albuquerque Journal. 2022-02-13. www.abqjournal.com.
  6. Web site: GOP House leader quits legislature . 2024-03-28 . www.rdrnews.com.