Teresa Leger Fernandez Explained
Teresa Isabel Leger Fernandez (; born July 1, 1959)[1] [2] is an American attorney and politician representing New Mexico's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.[3] [4]
Early life and education
Leger Fernandez was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico.[5] Her mother, Mela Leger, was a bilingual educator and her father, Ray Leger, served as a member of the New Mexico Senate.[6] After graduating from West Las Vegas High School, Leger Fernandez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School.[7]
Career
After graduating from law school, Leger Fernandez returned to New Mexico to work as an attorney, specializing in community-building and tribal advocacy. She was a White House Fellow during the Clinton administration and later served on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation during the Obama administration.[8] [9] She also worked as a liaison between the White House Office and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. For 30 years, Leger Fernandez has operated Leger Law and Strategy, LLC in Santa Fe. The firm focuses on community development, tribal advocacy, civil rights, and social justice.[10] In 2017, she led a successful effort to implement ranked-choice voting in Santa Fe's municipal elections.[11]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2020
After incumbent Representative Ben Ray Luján announced that he would not seek reelection in 2020 and instead run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Tom Udall, Leger Fernandez announced her candidacy to succeed Luján. In the Democratic primary, Leger Fernandez faced six opponents, including New Mexico State Representative Joseph L. Sanchez and Valerie Plame, an author and former CIA officer.[12] During the campaign, Leger Fernandez was endorsed by Congresswoman Deb Haaland, EMILY's List, and The Santa Fe New Mexican.[13] [14]
A political progressive, Leger Fernandez was also endorsed by the Working Families Party, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[15] She placed first in the primary with over 42% of the vote.[16]
In the November general election, Leger Fernandez defeated Republican nominee Alexis Johnson. She assumed office on January 3, 2021.[17] [18]
Committee assignments
[20]
Caucus membership
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chair of Communications
- Democratic Women's Caucus, Vice Chair
- National Labs Caucus, Co-Chair
- Rural Broadband Caucus, Co-Chair
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Diabetes Caucus
- Labor Caucus
- LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
- Mental Health Caucus
- National Heritage Area Caucus
- Native American Caucus
- PFAS Caucus
- Pro-Choice Caucus
- Rural Caucus
- Ski Caucus
[21]
Political positions
Leger Fernandez has advocated a "New Mexico Green New Deal", Medicare for All, a transition from fracking to green energy, and a ban on the sale of military-style semi-automatic rifles.[22] She supported comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act.[23] During the 117th Congress, she voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[24]
Personal life
Leger Fernandez and her ex-husband, Luis Fernandez, have three sons.[25]
See also
External links
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Notes and References
- Web site: Baker . Damare . November 30, 2020 . Rep.-elect Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.-03) . December 1, 2020 . . March 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220324231341/https://thehill.com/new-members-guide-2020/527777-rep-elect-teresa-leger-fernandez-d-nm-03 . live .
- Web site: Teresa Leger Fernandez . January 13, 2021.
- News: New Mexico Primary Election Results: Third Congressional District . en-US . The New York Times . June 2, 2020 . June 3, 2020 . 0362-4331 . June 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200602220918/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/02/us/elections/results-new-mexico-house-district-3-primary-election.html . live .
- News: Medina . Jennifer . 2020-06-03 . Teresa Leger Fernandez Beats Valerie Plame in New Mexico House Primary . en-US . The New York Times . 2020-06-03 . 0362-4331 . March 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210309021650/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/us/politics/valerie-plame-teresa-leger-fernandez-new-mexico.html . live .
- Web site: Bennett. Megan Bennett. Santa Fe lawyer kicks off campaign for Congress. 2020-06-03. www.abqjournal.com. en-US. May 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210523164705/https://www.abqjournal.com/1316891/santa-fe-lawyer-kicks-off-campaign-for-congress.html. live.
- Web site: Grover . Hannah . Election 2020: Teresa Leger Fernandez hopes to represent Congressional District 3 . 2020-07-18 . Tallahassee Democrat . en-US . May 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523164704/https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/2019/07/20/teresa-leger-fernandez-vies-democratic-nomination-new-mexico-congress-2020/1783985001/ . live .
- Web site: Gerstein . Michael . Leger Fernandez wins Democratic primary for 3rd Congressional District seat . 2020-06-08 . Santa Fe New Mexican . June 2, 2020 . en . June 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200608052403/https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/elections/leger-fernandez-wins-democratic-primary-for-3rd-congressional-district-seat/article_3b0a742a-a558-11ea-aec1-c321eccc7b6f.html . live .
- Web site: Grover . Hannah . Election 2020: Teresa Leger Fernandez hopes to represent Congressional District 3 . June 3, 2020 . Farmington Daily Times . en . February 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200222233630/https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/local/2019/07/20/teresa-leger-fernandez-vies-democratic-nomination-new-mexico-congress-2020/1783985001/ . live .
- Web site: Meet Teresa . June 3, 2020 . Teresa 4 All . en . May 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523164704/https://www.teresaforall.com/meet-teresa . live .
- Web site: January 7, 2015 . Teresa Leger de Fernandez, Rebellious Lawyer . June 3, 2020 . Rebellious Lawyering Institute #RebelliousLawyering . en . May 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523164704/https://rebelliouslawyeringinstitute.org/teresa-leger-de-fernandez-rebellious-lawyer/ . live .
- Web site: Last . T. S. . Democratic nominee in CD3 inspired by state senator father . 2020-06-09 . www.abqjournal.com . June 7, 2020 . en-US . May 23, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210523164706/https://www.abqjournal.com/1463648/democratic-nominee-in-cd3-inspired-by-state-senator-father-ex-teresa-leger-fernande-zsays-he-taught-her-its-about-us.html . live .
- Web site: May 16, 2019 . Santa Fe lawyer Leger Fernandez running for Congress . June 3, 2020 . AP NEWS . June 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603034944/https://apnews.com/de1263ef9f2b4b298c88c628c4ea9ffe . live .
- Web site: Panetta . Grace . LIVE UPDATES: Valerie Plame and Teresa Leger Fernandez compete in the primary for New Mexico's third district . June 3, 2020 . Business Insider . June 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603034947/https://www.businessinsider.com/valerie-plame-teresa-leger-fernandez-new-mexico-primary-live-results-2020-6 . live .
- Web site: Endorsements . June 3, 2020 . Teresa 4 All . en . June 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603034948/https://www.teresaforall.com/endorsements2 . live .
- Web site: Blaber . Mona . 2020-01-23 . Sierra Club endorses Teresa Leger Fernandez for U.S. House . 2020-07-03 . Rio Grande Chapter . en-US . July 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200705115056/https://www.riograndesierraclub.org/sierra-club-endorses-teresa-leger-fernandez-for-u-s-house/ . live .
- Web site: Gerstein . Michael . With clear primary victory, Leger Fernandez eyes November . 2020-07-03 . Santa Fe New Mexican . June 3, 2020 . en . July 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200704190227/https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/elections/with-clear-primary-victory-leger-fernandez-eyes-november/article_b396ba1a-a5b3-11ea-ae93-5bc91acb6fe5.html . live .
- Web site: 2020-11-04 . Teresa Leger Fernandez will take U.S. House District 3 seat . 2020-11-04 . KRQE News 13 Albuquerque - Santa Fe . en-US . November 6, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201106042116/https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/elections/teresa-leger-fernandez-will-take-u-s-house-district-3-seat/ . live .
- Web site: Grover . Hannah . Leger Fernandez wins Democratic nomination for CD3, Johnson leads in Republican primary . 2020-06-07 . Farmington Daily Times . en . June 7, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200607074635/https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2020/06/02/2020-new-mexico-primary-election-results-farmington-congressional-district-3/5300965002/ . live .
- Web site: 2020-12-18 . Pelosi Announces Additional Committee Assignments for 117th Congress . 2021-01-08 . Speaker Nancy Pelosi . en . January 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210105070716/https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/121820 . dead .
- Web site: Washington . U. S. Capitol Room H154 . p:225-7000 . DC 20515-6601 . Teresa Leger Fernandez (New Mexico (NM)), 118th Congress Profile . 2023-07-02 . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . en.
- Web site: 2022-09-22 . Committees and Caucuses . 2023-07-02 . Representative Teresa Fernandez . en.
- Web site: Editorial: Our picks for president, Congress . June 3, 2020 . The Taos News . May 6, 2020 . en . June 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603034948/https://www.taosnews.com/stories/endorsements-president-congress,63685 . live .
- Web site: Candidate . The . Q&A: U.S. House District 3 Teresa Leger Fernandez . 2020-06-08 . www.abqjournal.com . May 8, 2020 . en-US . June 8, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200608052409/https://www.abqjournal.com/1452641/qa-u-s-house-district-3-teresa-leger-fernandez.html . live .
- Web site: Bycoffe . Aaron . Wiederkehr . Anna . 2021-04-22 . Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? . 2023-11-15 . FiveThirtyEight . en.
- Web site: May 23, 2020 . Teresa Leger Fernandez For NM US Congress In District Three . June 3, 2020 . Retake Our Democracy . en-US . June 3, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603034946/https://retakeourdemocracy.org/teresa-leger-fernandez-for-nm-us-congress-in-district-three/ . live .