Jesse Francis "Jeff" Bingaman Jr. (born October 3, 1943) is the junior U.S. Senator from New Mexico. He has been in the Senate since 1983 and is a member of the Democratic Party. Bingaman was Attorney General of New Mexico from 1978 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1982, when he defeated Republican incumbent and former astronaut Harrison Schmitt. He was re-elected in 1988, 1994 (defeating Colin McMillan), and again in 2000.

Bingalito Sen. Bingaman meets with Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito prior to his confirmation hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee.At age 15, Jeff Bingaman earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Bingaman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Harvard University in 1965. He then entered Stanford Law School, graduating in 1968.

Bingaman and his senate colleague Pete Domenici are currently the longest serving duo among current Senators. The next longest are Edward Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts.

2006 reelection campaign
Main article: New Mexico United States Senate election, 2006
Bingaman faces no opposition in the June 6, 2006 primary. Four Repulicans have filed paperwork for their primary (the filing deadline was February 14, 2006):

Joe Carraro - a state senator and a businessman
Francesca Lobato - an attorney and frequent candidate
Allen McCulloch - a urologist and former chemical engineer, he has no previous political experience or name recognition.
David Pfeffer - a Santa Fe City Councillor and Vietnam War veteran.