{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Eleanor Chávez | birth_date = {{birth date and age|June 30, 1953}} | office = Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives | term_start = January 1, 2023 | predecessor = Georgene Louis | constituency = 26th district | term_start1 = 2009 | term_end1 = 2013 | successor1 = Patricia Roybal Caballero | constituency1 = 13th district | office2 = Member of the New Mexico Public Education Commission | term_start2 = 2014 | term_end2 = 2016 | birth_place = Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S. | education = University of Washington (BA, MSW) | party = Democratic }}
'''Eleanor Chávez''' (born July 30, 1953) is an American politician serving as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for the 26th district. She previously represented the 13th district in the House from 2009 to 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legislator Archive - New Mexico Legislature|url=https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Former_Legislator?SponCode=HCHAL|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.nmlegis.gov|archive-date=2020-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017134928/https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Former_Legislator?SponCode=HCHAL|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Chávez was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington School of Social Work.<ref>[https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/104038/eleanor-chavez Eleanor Chavez's Biography]</ref>
== Career == After earning her master's degree, Chávez returned to New Mexico, where she worked as a community organizer. From 1997 to 2008, she was the director of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employee. In 2008, she was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives for the 13th district. In 2012, she opted not to seek re-election and instead run for the New Mexico Senate. In the 2012 Democratic primary, Chávez placed second after incumbent Michael Padilla.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eleanor Chavez|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Eleanor_Chavez|access-date=2020-10-13|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=ABQJournal News|title=Senate District 14 (D) -- Eleanor Chavez|url=https://www.abqjournal.com/104373/senate-district-14-democrat-2.html|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.abqjournal.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=rnikolewski|date=2012-03-05|title=Eleanor Chavez leaves NM House of Reps, will run for state Senate; 8 House members now stepping down|url=http://www.energycorrespondent.com/2012/03/eleanor-chavez-leaves-nm-house-of-reps-will-run-for-state-senate/|access-date=2020-10-13|website=EnergyCorrespondent.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2014, Chávez was elected to the New Mexico Public Education Commission. She declined to seek re-election in 2016. After leaving office, Chávez resumed working for the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employee as chapter director.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-08|title=Infections spike among New Mexico health care workers|url=https://apnews.com/article/877b8e5dd3e49897107943d5a2d97407|access-date=2020-10-13|website=AP NEWS}}</ref> In 2022, she was again elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Q&A: House District 26 candidate Eleanor Chavez - Albuquerque Journal |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/2533311/qa-house-district-26-candidate-eleanor-chavez.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=www.abqjournal.com}}</ref>
== References == <references />
{{Current New Mexico Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chavez, Eleanor}} Category:Living people Category:1953 births Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New Mexico Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics Category:University of Washington alumni Category:University of Washington School of Social Work alumni Category:Democratic Party members of the New Mexico House of Representatives Category:Women state legislators in New Mexico Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century members of the New Mexico Legislature Category:Politicians from Las Cruces, New Mexico