Jeff Bingaman was born on October 3, 1943. He grew up in the southwestern New Mexico community of Silver City, in a family with deep small town roots. His father was a science professor at Western New Mexico University, and his mother taught in the public schools.

After graduating from Western (now Silver) High School in 1961, Jeff attended Harvard University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government in 1965. He then entered the Stanford University School of Law, where he met, and later married, fellow law student, Anne Kovacovich.

Upon earning his law degree from Stanford in 1968, Jeff and Anne returned to New Mexico and had their son, John. Jeff served in the Army Reserves from 1968 to 1974.

After one year as New Mexico Assistant Attorney General and eight years in private law practice, Jeff was elected Attorney General of New Mexico in 1978. In 1982, he won election to the United States Senate. He was re-elected to a fifth Senate term in 2006, becoming the third longest-serving U.S. Senator in New Mexico history.

Jeff is one of the most senior Democrats in the United States Senate. His seniority, along with his leadership positions on key committees, has allowed him to champion issues important to New Mexican families and communities.