Pete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici (/doʊˈmɛnɪtʃi/ doh-MEN-ih-chee; May 7, 1932 – September 13, 2017) was an American attorney and politician who served as a United States Senator from New Mexico from 1973 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, he served six terms in the Senate, making him the longest-tenured U.S. Senator in the state's history. To date, Domenici is the last Republican to be elected to the Senate from New Mexico. He was succeeded by Democratic U.S. Representative Tom Udall.
Pete V. Domenici
Ralph Trigg
September 13, 2017 (aged 85)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Mount Calvary Cemetery
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Nancy Burk
9, including Adam Laxalt
During Domenici's tenure in the Senate, he advocated waterway usage fees, nuclear power and related causes. He received criticism for his environmental record and extramarital affair. Domenici chaired several key committees including the Senate Budget Committee and Senate Energy Committee.
Early years[edit]
Domenici was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Alda (née Vichi)[1] and Cherubino Domenici,[2] both of whom were born in Modena, Italy.[3]
Growing up, Domenici worked in his father's grocery business after school.[4] In 1950, he graduated from St. Mary's High School in Albuquerque. He spent two years at the College of St. Joseph on the Rio Grande before earning a degree in education at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque in 1954, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[5][6]
After graduating, Domenici pitched one season for the Albuquerque Dukes, then a Class C Minor league baseball team.[7] He also taught mathematics at Garfield Junior High in Albuquerque. Domenici earned his law degree at the University of Denver law school in 1958 and returned to practice law in Albuquerque.[8]
2002 New Mexico United States Senatorial Election[32]
1996 New Mexico United States Senatorial Election[33]
1990 New Mexico United States Senatorial Election[34]
1984 New Mexico United States Senatorial Election[34]
1978 New Mexico United States Senatorial Election[34]
1972 New Mexico United States Senatorial Election[32]
Life after politics[edit]
On October 4, 2007, Domenici announced his decision not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2008 for health reasons (specifically, frontotemporal lobar degeneration).[35][36] His seat was won by Democrat Tom Udall.[9]
After leaving the Senate, Domenici served as a senior fellow for the Bipartisan Policy Center.[37] Domenici and former OMB director and CBO director Dr. Alice Rivlin chaired a Debt Reduction Task Force sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center.[38] The task force was announced at a joint press conference on January 26, 2010, in Washington. The task force began its work in February 2010[39] and, led by Domenici, released a report on November 17, 2010 on ways to address and reduce the national debt and deficit.[40]
The Domenici Institute, which aims to continue "Domenici's legacy of service to the state of New Mexico", bears his name.[41]