Birthday

Bill Richardson was born Nov. 15, 1947.

Education

Richardson graduated with in 1970 from Tufts University. In 1971, he received a M.A. Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Pre-governing career

Richardson worked as a staffer for the Democratic Party in New Mexico and taught government at a community college. In 1982, he was elected to represent the newly created 3rd Congressional District in New Mexico. Richardson spent 14 years in Congress and sat on the Interior Committee and the House Select Committee on Intelligence. Richardson has been the U.S. secretary of energy (1998-2001), U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (1997-1998), and state representative (1983-1997).

Governing career

In 2003 he was elected governor of New Mexico. In 2006, Richardson was re-elected with almost 70 percent of the vote, including almost 40 percent of the Republican vote. In September 2006, Gov. Richardson traveled to Sudan to negotiate the release of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek. Richardson recently joined California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire to create the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, a joint strategy to fight global warming.

Declared candidacy

Richardson declared presidential May 21, 2007, in Los Angeles, Calif.

Family life

Bill Richardson was born in Pasadena, Calif., and grew up in Mexico City. In 1961, he left his family in Mexico City to attend high school in Massachusetts. Richardson met his wife, Barbara Flavin, in high school and they married in 1972. They have been married for 35 years with no children and currently reside in Santa Fe, N.M.

Religion

Roman Catholic