DemocratIn office since Nov 2012

Joe Cervantes

New Mexico State Senator, District 31 since 2012. Next on the ballot in 2028.

New Mexico State Senator, District 31

In office
14 yrs
Since 2012
Bills became law
5
25 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
14.5%
Chamber median 7.9%
With party
90%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+32.0
Won 2020
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • Courts, Corrections and Justice · vice chair
  • Judiciary · chair
  • Committees'
  • Conservation
  • Water and Natural Resources

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 25 sponsored · 5 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
SB 264 PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE
ELECTIONS · Became law Mar 2026
HB 9 IMMIGRANT SAFETY ACT
CRIMES & PENALTIES · Became law Feb 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Cervantes sits in the New Mexico State Senate

Cervantes is closer to the center than 75% of the chamber's Democrats.

Dem. medianRep. medianCervantesMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Martin Hickey, Leo Jaramillo, Michael Padilla

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:57 PM ET

With Cervantes’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Democrats90%

Black tick: the average of Democrats in the New Mexico State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Cervantes’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.

DateBillCervantesDem. majorityRep. majorityResult
Feb 19, 2026HB 200: NEW HOMES FOR NEW MEXICO PROGRAMNoYesNoPassed 22–13
Feb 18, 2026HB 165: PAYMENT OF CERTAIN IRB SPECIAL ASSESSMENTSYesYesNoPassed 30–10
Feb 18, 2026HB 184: INVESTMENT OF CONSERVATION & LEGACY FUNDSYesYesNoPassed 25–11
Feb 18, 2026HB 7: APPRENTICESHIP ASSISTANCE ACT TRANSFERSNot votingYesNoPassed 29–8
Feb 17, 2026HJR 5: LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION, CANoYesNoPassed 23–19

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Cervantes was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024New Mexico State Senate, District 31Won—
2020New Mexico State Senate, District 31WonD+32.0
2016New Mexico State Senate, District 31Won—
2012New Mexico State Senate, District 31WonD+36.5
2010New Mexico House of Representatives, District 52Won—
2008New Mexico House of Representatives, District 52Won—
2006New Mexico House of Representatives, District 52Won—
2004New Mexico House of Representatives, District 52WonD+26.6
2002New Mexico House of Representatives, District 52WonD+24.8

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats Cervantes has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who Cervantes has run against

  • John Thomas Roberts (R) · 2020 general, won
  • Brett C. Preston (R) · 2012 general, won
  • Sidney Neal Goddard (R) · 2004 general, won
  • Juan Jaramillo (R) · 2002 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know Cervantes

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET