Jim Townsend
New Mexico State Senator, District 34 since 2024. Ran in 7 elections between 2014 and 2024, winning 7. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 3
- 26 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 7.4%
- Chamber median 7.9%
- With party
- 92%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +51.2
- Won 2016
- 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.
- Economic and Rural Development and Policy · advisory
- Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy · designee
- Rules · ranking member
- Science, Technology and Telecommunications · advisory
- Courts, Corrections and Justice
- Judiciary
- Legislative Ethics Interim
- Radioactive and Hazardous Materials
- Water and Natural Resources
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
CORRECTIONS (prisons, prisoners, jails) · Became law Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Townsend sits in the New Mexico State Senate
Townsend is closer to the center than 12% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Larry Scott, David Gallegos, Candy Ezzell
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:57 PM ET
With Townsend’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans92%
Black tick: the average of Republicans 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: Townsend’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Townsend | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2026 | HB 200: NEW HOMES FOR NEW MEXICO PROGRAM | No | No | Yes | Passed 22–13 |
| Feb 18, 2026 | HB 165: PAYMENT OF CERTAIN IRB SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS | No | No | Yes | Passed 30–10 |
| Feb 18, 2026 | HB 184: INVESTMENT OF CONSERVATION & LEGACY FUNDS | No | No | Yes | Passed 25–11 |
| Feb 18, 2026 | HB 7: APPRENTICESHIP ASSISTANCE ACT TRANSFERS | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 29–8 |
| Feb 17, 2026 | HJR 5: LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION, CA | No | No | Yes | Passed 23–19 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Townsend 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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | New Mexico State Senate, District 34 | Won | — | R+41.5 | — |
| 2022 | New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | R+54.4 | — |
| 2020 | New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2016 | New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | R+51.2 | — | — |
| 2014 | New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 (primary) | Won | +41.2 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Townsend has held
- New Mexico State Senate, District 34 · since 2024
- New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 · 2014–2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Townsend has run against
- Freddie Joe Nichols III (I) · 2016 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Townsend
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/667a8a3c-dbe9-4aba-b768-e90be503df88
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET