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For 109 years since the Legislature was founded, New Mexico has not had an African American State Senator. In 2021, that changed when Harold Pope Jr. of Albuquerque took his seat representing the 23rd District. KUNM caught up with the freshman Senator and Air Force veteran to ask about what motivated a life of service and where he sees New Mexico's future.
HAROLD POPE JR.: You know, when I graduated high school, I didn't have the motivation to go to college, I really didn't see myself going. I didn't see much as far as African American males. I didn't have that mentorship. And I didn't see people that looked like me who were successful in my community. I got pushed by uncles that were married into the family who were actually in the military in the army, they pushed me to go in the Air Force. I didn't want to go. But when I did, it was the best decision I ever made in my life. Because I saw people that look like me, I had good mentors pushing me to try things that I would not have normally done. And once I did that, it helped me build a lot of confidence, take a lot of pride in the work that I did, and generally really just representing the country in public service.