Jeff Bingaman Jesse Francis Bingaman Office: Junior Senator, New Mexico Political party: Democratic Term of office: January 1983-Present Preceded by: Harrison Schmitt Succeeded by: Incumbent (2007) Born: October 3, 1943 El Paso, Texas Spouse: Anne Kovacovich Bingaman Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (born October 3, 1943) is the junior U.S. Senator from New Mexico. He has been in the Senate since 1983 and is a member of the Democratic Party. Bingaman was Attorney General of New Mexico from 1978 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1982, when he defeated Republican incumbent and former astronaut Harrison Schmitt. He was re-elected in 1988, 1994 (defeating Colin McMillan), and again in 2000. At age 15, Jeff Bingaman earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Bingaman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Harvard University in 1965. He then entered the Stanford University School of Law, graduating in 1968.
Bingaman and his senate colleague Pete Domenici are currently the longest serving duo among current Senators. The next longest are Edward Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts.
