Xochitl Torres Small Explained

Xochitl Torres Small
Office:15th United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
President:Joe Biden
Term Start:July 17, 2023
Predecessor:Jewel H. Bronaugh
Office1:Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development
President1:Joe Biden
Term Start1:October 13, 2021
Term End1:July 17, 2023
Predecessor1:Lisa Mensah
Successor1:Basil Gooden
State2:New Mexico
Term Start2:January 3, 2019
Term End2:January 3, 2021
Predecessor2:Steve Pearce
Successor2:Yvette Herrell
Birth Name:Xochitl Liana Torres
Birth Date:15 November 1984
Birth Place:Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Nathan Small
Education:Georgetown University (BS)
University of New Mexico (JD)

Xochitl Liana Torres Small (first name pronounced ; born November 15, 1984) is an American attorney and politician who is the 15th and current United States deputy secretary of agriculture, acting as "chief operating officer" for the department. She was nominated by President Joe Biden in February 2023, and was confirmed by the senate on July 11.[1] [2]

She was a U.S. representative for from 2019 to 2021 and had previously served as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, from 2021 to 2023.[3]

Early life and education

Xochitl Liana Torres was born on November 15, 1984, in Portland, Oregon, to Marcos and Cynthia "Cynta" Torres.[4] Her parents were educators. Torres Small was raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico.[5] She is a third-generation Mexican American.[6]

Torres graduated from Mayfield High School in absentia while she earned her International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma from Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa in Mbabane, Eswatini. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree from Georgetown University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.[7] [8]

Early career

Torres Small worked as a field representative for U.S. Senator Tom Udall from 2009 to 2012. She served as a federal law clerk in the New Mexico District from 2015 to 2016.[9] She worked as a water attorney with the Kemp Smith law firm.[10]

U.S. House of Representatives

2018 election

In the 2018 elections, Torres Small ran as a Democrat for the open United States House of Representatives seat in . The Republican incumbent, Steve Pearce, declined to run for reelection in order to run for governor of New Mexico.[11] Torres Small defeated Madeline Hildebrandt in the Democratic Party primary election and Republican state Representative Yvette Herrell in the general election.[12] [13] She ran as a moderate Democrat.[14]

The results were close on election night, with Herrell in the lead at the end of the night; some New Mexico media organizations projected that she would win. The next day, more ballots were counted, narrowing Herrell's lead, and media organizations rescinded their projections. On November 7, after all absentee ballots were counted, the New Mexico Secretary of State declared Torres Small the winner.[15] [16]

Tenure

In her first week in office, Torres Small and other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) traveled to the United States Border Patrol station at Alamogordo, New Mexico, where Felipe Gómez Alonzo, an eight-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, died in custody.[17]

In the 2020 presidential election, Torres Small said she would vote for Joe Biden despite disagreeing with some of his energy policy stances.

GovTrack reports that during her two years in Congress, Torres Small was the primary sponsor of three bills that became law, got her bills out of committee the tenth-most often of House freshmen and missed approximately 0.4% of House votes.[18]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

2020 election

Herrell ran again in 2020. During a debate in the campaign, she claimed to be "unashamedly pro-God, pro-life, pro-gun, pro-business and pro-family", while Torres Small touted her votes on oil and gas that bucked the Democratic Party's positions.[23] OpenSecrets reports that Torres Small outspent Herrell by over $5 million.[24]

Republicans targeted the seat as a pickup opportunity. Despite polling showing a dead heat, Herrell won by over 7%.[25] [26] [27]

U.S. Department of Agriculture

On June 18, 2021, it was announced that President Joe Biden would nominate Torres Small as Under Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture.[28] [29] She was confirmed by voice vote on October 7, 2021.[30]

On February 15, 2023, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Torres Small for United States deputy secretary of agriculture,[31] and following a nomination hearing on May 10, she was confirmed on July 11 in a 84–8 vote. She was sworn into office on July 17, 2023.[32]

Personal life

In 2016, Torres Small's husband, Nathan Small, was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing the 36th district.[11] He ran for reelection in 2018, winning with 59.9% of the vote.[33] [34] She is a Lutheran.[35]

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Confirmation of Xochitl Torres Small as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture . 2023-07-13 . www.usda.gov . en.
  2. Web site: 2023-07-11 . Senate confirms Torres Small as deputy secretary at USDA . 2023-07-13 . Roll Call . en.
  3. Web site: Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Confirmation of Representative Xochitl Torres Small to Serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development. October 12, 2021. U.S. Department of Agriculture. January 4, 2022.
  4. Web site: Candidate Conversation - Xochitl Torres-Small (D) . Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales . April 20, 2018.
  5. https://www.abqjournal.com/21636/updated-at-535am-missing-cruces-teacher-is-back-home.html Missing teacher is back home
  6. News: Montoya-Galvez . Camilo . Diverse freshman class will bolster record number of Latinos in Congress . November 27, 2018 . 19 April 2023 . CBS News.
  7. Web site: November 7, 2018 . Inspired Alumna Runs for Office in New Mexico . UWC .
  8. News: Bush . Mike . UNM team had role in court ruling . 6 January 2019 . Albuquerque Journal . May 27, 2014.
  9. News: Angela Kocherga . October 2, 2018 . Torres Small banks on 'strong independent streak' in district . Albuquerque Journal . November 8, 2018.
  10. Web site: UNM School of Law Alumna Seeks Big Impact on New Mexico Politics. UNM School of Law News. Sanchez. Derek. February 13, 2018. July 1, 2018.
  11. Web site: Las Cruces water attorney to seek seat being vacated by Pearce . Lcsun-news.com . January 17, 2018 . October 26, 2018.
  12. News: Torres Small, Herrell to Battle for New Mexico Open Seat . Rollcall.com . June 5, 2018 . October 26, 2018. Roll Call . Bowman . Bridget .
  13. Web site: Torres Small, Herrell to face off for congressional seat in GOP stronghold | Albuquerque Journal . Abqjournal.com . October 26, 2018.
  14. Web site: Republican Who Lost US House Race Seeks to Impound Ballots.
  15. News: Panas . Joshua . November 7, 2018 . Secretary of state declares Torres Small winner of 2nd Congressional District race . KOB-TV . https://web.archive.org/web/20181108050406/https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/xochitl-torres-small-takes-lead-in-2nd-congressional-district-race/5137351/ . November 8, 2018 . dead .
  16. News: Kocherga . Angela . November 7, 2018 . Torres Small is apparent winner in 2nd District . Albuquerque Journal . https://web.archive.org/web/20181116022937/https://www.abqjournal.com/1243372/outcome-of-cd-2-race-up-in-the-air.html . November 16, 2018 . live .
  17. Web site: US delegation seeks more details on Guatemalan boy's death. sanluisobispo. January 19, 2019.
  18. Web site: Rep. Xochitl Torres Small's 2020 Report Card. GovTrack. Feb 12, 2021.
  19. Web site: BLUE DOG COALITION ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP, NEW MEMBERS FOR THE 116TH CONGRESS. November 27, 2018. Blue Dog Coalition. en. February 6, 2019.
  20. Web site: The Women's Caucus. Women's Congressional Policy Institute. en-US. February 6, 2019.
  21. Web site: Chairman Joaquin Castro Welcomes Newest Members to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. January 8, 2019. Congressman Joaquin Castro. en. February 6, 2019.
  22. Web site: New Democrat Coalition Inducts 30 Members-Elect and Elects New Leadership. November 30, 2018. New Democrat Coalition. en. February 6, 2019. February 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203181224/https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-democrat-coalition-inducts-30-members-elect-and-elects-new. dead.
  23. News: Contreras. Russell. 2020-09-28. Xochitl Torres Small, Yvette Herrell meet in 1st debate in close House race in New Mexico. Las Cruces Sun-News. Associated Press. live. limited. 2021-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118044738/https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/28/new-mexico-election-2020-xochitl-torres-small-yvette-herrell-debate/3562750001/. 2021-01-18.
  24. Web site: New Mexico District 02 2020 Race - Summary Data. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510042522/https://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary?cycle=2020&id=NM02. 2021-05-10. 2021-05-10. OpenSecrets.org.
  25. News: Edmondson. Catie. 2020-11-04. Yvette Herrell Ousts Xochitl Torres Small From New Mexico House Seat. en-US. The New York Times. live. limited. 2021-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510043257/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/us/politics/new-mexico-yvette-herrell.html. 2021-05-10. 0362-4331.
  26. Web site: Election 2020 - New Mexico 2nd District - Herrell vs. Torres Small. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126034033/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/house/nm/new_mexico_2nd_district_herrell_vs_torres_small-7199.html. 2021-01-26. 2021-05-10. RealClearPolitics.
  27. News: 2021-03-06. New Mexico Election Results: Second Congressional District. en-US. The New York Times. live. limited. 2021-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20210415121143/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-new-mexico-house-district-2.html. 2021-04-15. 0362-4331.
  28. News: June 18, 2021. Former Rep. Xochitl Torres Small nominated for role in Biden administration. KOB. June 19, 2021.
  29. Web site: 2021-06-18 . President Biden Announces Six Key Administration Nominations . 2021-06-18 . The White House . en-US.
  30. October 7, 2021 . PN745 — Xochitl Torres Small — Department of Agriculture . Congress.gov . January 4, 2022.
  31. President Biden Announces Xochitl Torres Small as Nominee for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture . February 15, 2023 . The White House . February 15, 2023.
  32. Web site: July 13, 2023 . USDA: Congratulations Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small . July 14, 2023 . US Forest Service . en.
  33. Web site: . Rep. Nathan Small announces re-election bid for District 36 . Las Cruces Sun-News . March 9, 2018 . November 8, 2018.
  34. News: Jacqueline Devine . Democrats sweep house races, New Mexico . Las Cruces Sun News . November 6, 2018 . November 8, 2018.
  35. Web site: Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life . Religious affiliation of members of 116th Congress . pewforum.org . 8 . April 2, 2019. Pew Research Center .

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