Kristina Ortez is a Democratic member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 42 . Elected in November 2020, she assumed office on January 19, 2021, succeeding Daniel R. Barrone. A resident of Taos, New Mexico, she is a mother of two daughters and a non-profit executive focused on community improvement, environmental protection, land and water issues. Notable achievements include serving as Executive Director of the Taos Land Trust for eight years, where she collaborated with leaders on legislation for land protection and clean water; Board Chair of Conservation Voters New Mexico; Founder and Vice-Chair of Alianza Agri-Cultural de Taos; and Troop Leader for Girl Scouts Troop 1112. In her legislative role, she has championed teacher pay increases, better wages for judges and law enforcement, and funding for behavioral health and addiction services.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: B.A. from Harvard University; M.P.A. from the University of New Mexico.
• Early Life: Raised in a farming community in California's San Joaquin Valley; attended UC Davis' Young Scholars Program in 1989.
• Political Experience: First elected to the New Mexico House in 2020; serving continuously since 2021 as Representative for District 42. Prior to politics, led non-profits addressing land trust, conservation, and agricultural initiatives in Taos, where she has lived for nearly 12 years.