SANTA FE, N.M. – Former US Senator Tom Udall is the third high profile New Mexican to be selected by President Joseph R. Biden for an important position in the federal government. The president tapped Udall to be the American Ambassador for New Zealand and the Independent State of Samoa on July 16.
Udall was New Mexico’s Senior Senator, being a two-term senator, he served in the United States Senate for 12 years but did not elect to run for a third term. Before becoming a US Senator, Udall spent 1991 through 2009 serving as the New Mexico Attorney General, upon leaving this post he went on to spend a decade, 1999-2009 as the US Representative for New Mexico’s Third Congressional District, which represents Northern New Mexico. In 2009 Udall assumed the position of United States Senator for New Mexico and would serve in this post from 2009-2020. Government life was not over for Udall as he was among four ambassadorships announced on Friday.
To become an ambassador of the United States, Udall will need to be confirmed in vote by the full US Senate, with his established ties on Capitol Hill, his confirmation is likely.
“This is a critical time for our country and my wife Jill and I are humbled and honored for the opportunity to continue to serve our country, and if confirmed, look forward to representing the United States in this important diplomatic post,” Udall said in a statement to the Associated Press.
President Biden took the presidency with several diplomatic posts to fill, as almost all were empty before he took office, these diplomatic positions like the one Udall will be fighting to be confirmed to, work with the leadership of other countries to ensure that American ideals and interests are protected, and to help ensure the partnership between the US and the country they serve, according to the United States Department of State.