Jacob R. Candelaria (born 1986 or 1987) is an American politician and attorney from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who represents the 26th District in the New Mexico Senate. First elected in 2012, he is a member of the Democratic Party.
No Republican filed for the seat in the solidly Democratic district, and Candelaria ran unopposed in the November general election.
The 26th district (map) is located entirely within Bernalillo County and contains the westside of the city of Albuquerque.
Video Jacob Candelaria
Early life and career
Candelaria was born and raised in Albuquerque, brought up by a single mother. He attended St. Pius X High School on Albuquerque's westside before graduating from Princeton University in 2009 with a degree in public and international affairs with a focus on economics and finance.
On graduating from Princeton, he returned to Albuquerque, working for Think New Mexico, the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee and Ben Lujan, the Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives. In August 2011, he was appointed President and CEO of Equality New Mexico, the state's largest gay rights organization. Candelaria is a graduate, cum laude, of the University of New Mexico School of Law. During law school, Candelaria was a member of the law school's Natural Resources Law Journal and the national Native American Law Moot Court team. Upon graduation, Candelaria received the Dean's Award and was consistently named to the Dean's List for academic achievement.
Maps Jacob Candelaria
Political career
On March 5, 2012, Candelaria announced his candidacy for the New Mexico Senate, seeking the Democratic nomination in the 26th district. He was initially one of four Democrats to have filed for the seat, including incumbent Sen. Bernadette Sanchez. However, Sanchez abandoned her re-election bid on March 23, citing a desire to concentrate on her health. Three days later, Steve D. Gallegos, a former Albuquerque city councilor and Bernalillo County commissioner, dropped his bid for the seat and endorsed Candelaria.
The Democratic primary election held on June 5, 2012 was therefore a two-way fight between Candelaria and opponent Carlos Jose Villanueva. Candelaria took 69% of the vote, winning 1,835 votes to Villanueva's 828.
Candelaria serves as the Senate Majority Caucus Chair--making him one of the youngest legislative leaders in the United States
Awards
MSNBC's "50 States Rising Star" for New Mexico, 2014
Albuquerque Business First, 40 under 40, 2015
Albuquerque Pride, OUTstanding Public Official, 2016
Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Start to Finish Legislative Leadership Award, 2016
UNM School of Law, Dean's Award, 2016
UNM School of Law, Cum Laude 2016
UNM School of Law, Dean's List, 2013-2016
Personal
Candelaria is openly gay. He is the first gay man to serve in the New Mexico Legislature and only the second LGBT person, after former state senator Liz Stefanics.
Candelaria's campaign won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.
References
External links
- Senator Jacob R. Candelaria - (D) at New Mexico Legislature
- Campaign website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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