Jefferson Byrd
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Jefferson Byrd
|office = Member of the
New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
from the 2nd district
|term_start = January 1, 2019
|term_end = January 1, 2023
|predecessor = Patrick H. Lyons
|successor = Position abolished
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|16}}
|birth_place = Springer, New Mexico, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Republican
|spouse = Suzanne
|education = New Mexico State University (BA)
}}
Jefferson L. Byrd (born June 16, 1971) is an American politician from New Mexico. He was an elected member of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission from the 2nd district, which covers Chaves, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Guadalupe, Harding, Lea, Quay, Roosevelt, and Union Counties, and parts of Bernalillo, Lincoln, Mora, Otero, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Torrance Counties.
Early life and education
Byrd grew up on his family's ranch in Mosquero, New Mexico and attended Mosquero High School. He graduated from New Mexico State University in 1995 with a B.A. in agricultural engineering.{{cite web|title=U.S. House of Representatives bio: Jefferson Byrd|date=May 22, 2012|work=Santa Fe New Mexican|accessdate=January 3, 2019|url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/u-s-house-of-representatives-bio-jefferson-byrd/article_1db7874f-ef1c-5a2e-8a90-40f6d9cbc812.html}} He worked as an environmental engineer in the oil refining industry for fourteen years and owns two small businesses, including a ranch in Northern New Mexico.{{cite web|last=Horwath|first=Justin|title=The Long Shot: Can a Republican rancher wrangle northern New Mexico's voters?|date=August 7, 2012|work=Santa Fe Reporter|accessdate=January 3, 2019|url=https://www.sfreporter.com/news/2012/08/07/the-long-shot/}}{{cite web|title=3rd Congressional District (R) — Jefferson L. Byrd|date=October 1, 2014|work=Albuquerque Journal|accessdate=January 3, 2019|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/471018/3rd-congressional-district-r-jefferson-l-byrd.html}}
Career
A member of the Republican Party, Byrd ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Mexico's 3rd congressional district in 2012 and 2014, both times losing to incumbent Democratic Congressman Ben Ray Luján. In 2018, Byrd won the Republican nomination for Public Regulation Commissioner from the 2nd district over Jerry Partin, 54–46%.{{cite web|title=2018 primary election results|date=June 5, 2018|work=Artesia Daily Press|accessdate=January 3, 2019|url=http://www.artesianews.com/1591396/2018-primary-election-results.html|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412221021/http://www.artesianews.com/1591396/2018-primary-election-results.html|url-status=dead}} He defeated Democratic nominee Kevin Sanders 62-38% in the general election.[http://electionresults.sos.state.nm.us/resultsPREC.aspx?type=PRX&rid=4980&cty=02%20&osn=350 OFFICIAL RESULTS General Election - November 6, 2018 - Public Regulation Commissioner - DISTRICT 2] New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved January 3, 2019. Byrd's service on the commission ended January 1, 2023 after a constitutional amendment converting the commission from an elected to an appointed body went into effect.{{cite web|last1=Rogers|first1=Mackinlee|last2=Suazo|first2=Miguel|title=From Elected to Appointed: New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to Undergo Major Changes Effective January 2023|date=November 1, 2022|work=Climate Sutions Legal Digest|publisher=Husch Blackwell LLP|access-date=December 31, 2024|url=
https://www.climatesolutionslaw.com/2022/11/from-elected-to-appointed-new-mexico-public-regulation-commission-to-undergo-major-changes-effective-january-1-2023/}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://ballotpedia.org/Jefferson_Byrd_(New_Mexico) Jefferson Byrd – Ballotpedia] profile
- [http://www.nmprc.state.nm.us/ New Mexico Public Regulation Commission – official site]
{{New Mexico statewide political officials}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrd, Jefferson L.}}
Category:Businesspeople from New Mexico
Category:American environmental engineers
Category:New Mexico Republicans
Category:New Mexico State University alumni
Category:People from Tucumcari, New Mexico
Category:Ranchers from New Mexico
Category:Candidates in the 2012 United States elections
Category:Candidates in the 2014 United States elections
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