Nora Espinoza

Born in Panama, Espinoza earned her BA in religious education from New Covenant International University in Florida. New Covenant International University is not an accredited university.

Espinoza spoke out in support of an Arizona state decision to ban several books related to Latino history, which she referred to as "extremely racist and hate books", prompting a response from historian Rodolfo Acuña.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/nora-espinoza-mexican-american-studies_n_2863540.html|title=Nora Espinoza, New Mexico Legislator: Keep Mexican-American Studies Books Out Of Schools|work=Huffington Post|first=Roque|last=Planas|date=March 13, 2013|access-date=April 12, 2025}} In January 2015, she was selected as the New Mexico House of Representatives Education Chair.

When District 59 Republican Representative Avon Wilson retired in 2006, leaving the seat open, Espinoza won the Republican Primary, held on June 6, with 1,237 votes (53.5%),{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewidePrim06.pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 6, 2006 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 6 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221140217/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewidePrim06.pdf |archive-date= February 21, 2014 |url-status= dead }} and won the General election on November 7 with 4,271 votes (72%) against Democratic nominee Ellen Wedum.{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewideGen06.pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 7, 2006 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 6 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221140320/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewideGen06.pdf |archive-date= February 21, 2014 |url-status= dead }}

In 2008 Espinoza and Wedum were both unopposed for their respective party primaries, both held on June 8,{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/StatewidePrim08.pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 8, 2008 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 4 & 8 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221135639/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/StatewidePrim08.pdf |archive-date= February 21, 2014 |url-status= dead }} setting up a rematch; Espinoza won the November 4 General election with 6,469 votes (65.2%).{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewideGen08.pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 4, 2008 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 8 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221135641/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewideGen08.pdf |archive-date= February 21, 2014 |url-status= dead }}

On 1 June 2010, Espinoza and Wedum both won their party primaries yet again (though this time Wedum had a competitor),{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewidePrim10.pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 1, 2010 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 3 & 6 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221134921/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Election%20Results/StatewidePrim10.pdf |archive-date= February 21, 2014 |url-status= dead }} setting up their third contest; Espinoza won the General election on November 2 with 5,337 votes (72%) against Wedum.{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/StatewideResults_Gen_2010.pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 2, 2010 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 6 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140221134824/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/StatewideResults_Gen_2010.pdf |archive-date= February 21, 2014 |url-status= dead }}

In 2012 Espinoza was unopposed for both the Republican Primary on June 5, winning with 3,096 votes{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/StatewidePrimary12(1).pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 5, 2012 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 8 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181115165738/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/StatewidePrimary12(1).pdf |archive-date= November 15, 2018 |url-status= dead }} and the General Election on November 6, winning with 9,903 votes.{{cite web |url= http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Pages%20from%20ALLNMG12%20CAN%20STATEWIDE.pdf |title= Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 6, 2012 – State of New Mexico |publisher= Secretary of State of New Mexico |location= Santa Fe, New Mexico |page= 9 |accessdate= February 13, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131104072541/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/uploads/files/Pages%20from%20ALLNMG12%20CAN%20STATEWIDE.pdf |archive-date= November 4, 2013 |url-status= dead }}

In 2016, Espinoza ran for Secretary of State of New Mexico, but lost to Maggie Toulouse Oliver.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/884945/democrat-on-track-to-win-new-mexico-secretary-of-state.html|title=Dems retake Secretary of State's Office}} While running for Secretary of State, she relinquished her position in the House of Representatives subsequent to the November 2016 election. Greg Nibert succeeded Espinoza as representative for the 59th District.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/new-mexico-state-house-district-59|title=New Mexico 59th District State House Results: Greg Nibert Wins|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 2017}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140221181857/http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislator_details.aspx?SPONCODE=HESPI Official page] at the New Mexico Legislature
• {{CongLinks | congbio = | votesmart = 59724 | fec = | congress = }}
• {{Ballotpedia|Nora_Espinoza}}
• [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=8189 Nora Espinoza] at OpenSecrets{{dead link|date=December 2017}}

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Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

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Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the New Mexico House of Representatives

Category:New Mexico Military Institute alumni

Category:Politicians from Roswell, New Mexico

Category:Texas Tech University alumni

Category:Women state legislators in New Mexico

Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New Mexico

Category:American politicians of Mexican descent

Category:21st-century members of the New Mexico Legislature

Category:Latino conservatism in the United States

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