Jacob Candelaria

Background

Candelaria was born and raised in Albuquerque, brought up by a single mother.

Education

He attended Saint 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.

Career

Number 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. 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 Chief Executive Officer of Equality New Mexico, the state"s largest gay rights organization.

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 Senator.

Bernadette Sanchez. However, Sanchez abandoned her re-election bid on March 23, citing a desire to concentrate on her health.

Three days later, Steve Doctorate. Gallegos, a former Albuquerque city councilor and Bernalillo County commissioner, dropped his bid for the seat and endorsed Candelaria. Candelaria took 69% of the vote, winning 1,835 votes to Villanueva"s 828.

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.

Achievements

• Candelaria"s campaign won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

Membership

First elected in 2012, he is a member of the Democratic Party.

Connections

opponent:

Carlos Jose Villanueva