Jay C. Block
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (March 2025) |
Jay C. Block | |
|---|---|
 Block in 2024 | |
| Member of the New Mexico Senate from the 12th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jerry Ortiz y Pino |
| Member of the Sandoval County Commission from the 2nd district | |
| In office 2016–2024 | |
| Preceded by | Nora M. Scherzinger |
| Succeeded by | John Herr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 9, 1970 Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Education | North Dakota State University |
Jay Christopher Block (born November 9, 1970)[1] is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has been in the New Mexico Senate since 2025.[2] Block was previously a member of the Sandoval County Commission from 2016 to 2024.[3] He unsuccessfully ran in the Republican primary in 2022 New Mexico gubernatorial election.[3]
Early life
[edit]Block was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. As a child, he struggled in school due to dyslexia. In his teens, he did volunteer work for Jack Kemp's unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination in the 1988 US presidential election. After high school, he joined the US Air Force and was in the ROTC program while at North Dakota State University.[4]
Block had post-traumatic stress disorder following his service in Afghanistan. He spent time working at the Pentagon and Kirkland Air Force Base. Following his retirement from the Air Force in 2016, he became a consultant for the Department of Defense on nuclear operations.[4]
Political career
[edit]Block is a member of the New Mexico Senate, representing the 12th District.[5] Block, a Republican, was elected in 2024.[6] He assumed office on January 1, 2025, succeeding longtime Democratic senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino in a redistricted district.[7]
As of 2025, Block is on the Senate Health & Public Affairs committee and the Senate Rules committee.[2]
Block was first elected to the Sandoval County Commission in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020.[3] While on the commission, he allocated budgetary support for drug and alcohol treatment services.[8]
On April 17, 2021, Block became the first to enter the Republican primary for the New Mexico governorship in 2022.[9] In the primary, he came in fourth place with 10.61% of the vote, losing the nomination to Mark Ronchetti with 58.41%. Ronchetti lost the general election.[10]
Political positions
[edit]Block supports Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency.[11] He supports the Second Amendment, right-to-work laws and favors life imprisonment or the death penalty for drug dealers, citing the fentanyl crisis. He also supports the oil and gas industry . He has described himself as an opponent of the "woke left".[12] He opposes abortion and transgender rights.[8][13]
Personal life
[edit]As of 2024, Block had four children and was married to Jennifer.[1]
One of Block's daughters criticized him for his support of Donald Trump and his Republican views in TikTok videos..[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Candidates". Albuquerque, NM: Albuquerque Journal. May 26, 2024. p. C6. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ a b "Senator Jay C. Block - (R)". New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
- ^ a b c Hattem, Julian (June 16, 2014). "NM governor's ex-aide pleads guilty to hacking charges". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "GOP hopeful Block pitches himself as a fighter". Albuquerque Journal. May 17, 2022. p. A4.
- ^ "Legislator - New Mexico Legislature". www.nmlegis.gov. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ Boyd, Dan (October 28, 2024). "After Senate district moved in redistricting, Republicans eye rare Albuquerque area breakthrough". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
- ^ Kevin Hendricks and Jesse Jones (November 5, 2024). "Sandoval County election results". Sandoval Signpost.
- ^ a b Jones, Jesse (January 7, 2025). "New State Senator Wants Strict Penalties for Drug Dealers". Sandoval Signpost. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
- ^ "Republican Commissioner Jay Block enters governor's race". Albuquerque Journal. April 18, 2021. p. A12.
- ^ "2022 Primary Election Candidate Summary Results Report" (PDF). New Mexico Secretary of State.
- ^ Chacón, Daniel (February 27, 2025). "Daughter calls state senator father 'Walmart version of Trump' in TikTok video". The Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ Daniel J. Chacón (May 16, 2023). "Republican vows to fight 'woke left' as he announces bid for state Senate". Santa Fe New Mexican.
- ^ "Daughter Of Anti-Abortion Candidate Jay Block Calls Out Dad For Pro-Life Hypocrisy". The Paper. July 19, 2022.
- ^ Chacón, Daniel J. (February 27, 2025). "Daughter calls state senator father 'Walmart version of Trump' in TikTok video". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved March 23, 2025.