New Mexico State Senator Shannon Pinto serves New Mexico’s District 3. She succeeded her grandfather, Senator John Pinto, who was the longest-serving senator in New Mexico, where he had been serving since 1977. He served in the Marines and was trained as a Navajo Code Talker during World War II.
Senator Pinto is a champion for New Mexico families. Since holding office in 2019, Senator Pinto works to advance solutions to the everyday challenges that New Mexico families face, from environment issues to educational issues, including the protections of and support for indigenous New Mexicans. In 2022, Senator Pinto co-sponsored SB12 and SB13, to prevent cases of missing and murdered indigenous New Mexicans and to allocate resources to support those impacted.
Currently, Senator Pino chairs the Senate Indian, Rural & Cultural Affairs Committee and is a member of the Senate Education Committee. Prior to holding office, Senator Pinto was an educator who worked as a middle and high school math teacher in Tohatchi, New Mexico.