About Mark

In 2008, Mark Udall was elected to the U.S. Senate by the people of Colorado in one of the most hotly contested races in the country. Mark won by focusing on the issues important to Colorado voters and rising above the "politics as usual" approach that rewards partisan mudslinging. Mark is a dedicated public servant, small businessman, father and husband, and the type of Senator who will work with anyone and stand up to anyone to do right by Colorado. He is our state's senior Senator.

Mark Udall is routinely praised for his practical approach to problem solving and for his willingness to work with people who don't share his views. He consistently reaches across the aisle, building coalitions and finding unlikely allies to support issues important to Colorado, the West, and our country.

Mark's independent and practical approach has helped him consistently deliver for the people of Colorado in a Congress defined more by gridlock and partisan bickering than cooperation. As Mark often says, one of his goals is to bring a good dose of "Colorado common sense" to Washington, D.C.

This pragmatic style means that Mark reaches across the political aisle to advocate for policies that boost Colorado jobs and innovation. He has worked to grow and protect jobs across Colorado, especially in our defense, aerospace, bio-science, clean energy, and high tech sectors.

A champion of Colorado's wild lands, Mark worked across party lines to pass legislation to reduce wildfire risk and bark beetle infestation in the state. Additionally, he successfully pushed to create the James Peak Wilderness Area, led the effort to transform the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons facility into a wildlife refuge, and authored a bill to provide health care for the Cold War veterans working at that nuclear facility.

Mark is especially proud of the passage of the Credit CARD Act, a bill he initiated in 2005 to protect consumers from predatory and abusive practices by credit card companies. Due to Mark's leadership, President Obama also signed into law a provision Mark authored to give consumers free access to their credit scores.

Aside from standing up for Colorado's consumers, Mark Udall is known for showing leadership and making the difficult national security choices these challenging times demand. He voted against the rush to war with Iraq and against the PATRIOT Act, despite immense political pressure to support both in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Additionally, due to Mark's active involvement, the outmoded policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed in 2011, strengthening our national security and allowing all Americans to serve their country, no matter their sexual orientation.

Bucking many in his party, Mark Udall is an unflinching advocate for responsibly reducing our nation's debt and getting our fiscal house in order. Mark is both a supporter and advocate for a balanced budget amendment, pay-as-you-go rules, the presidential line-item veto, and banning earmarks. In fact, Mark's leadership led the Senate to place a ban on earmarks in 2010.

Throughout his time in public office, Mark has used his influential committee assignments to promote issues important to Coloradans. He is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, and has co-authored legislation to strengthen our military, fund Colorado's military installations, and develop new strategies for combating terrorism.

Additionally, Mark serves on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Special Committee on Aging. Mark also chairs the National Parks Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, an assignment that he especially enjoys given his love of the outdoors and the importance that national parks play in our nation's heritage.

These assignments give Mark Udall considerable power to address issues uniquely important to Colorado including: national security and veterans issues, Colorado's burgeoning clean energy economy, and the preservation of Colorado's wild lands and natural resources.

But in addition to advocating for Colorado on policy matters, Mark believes that public service requires a commitment to helping Coloradans make their government work for them. He has a strong record in responding to constituent concerns, and providing assistance to citizens working with government agencies.

Mark began his career in public service in the Colorado State House in 1997. From 1999 through 2008, he represented Colorado's Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before that, Mark ran a successful non-profit, Colorado Outward Bound, where he combined his business acumen with a love for Colorado's mountains.

Mark lives in Eldorado Springs, Colorado. His wife, Maggie Fox, is a prominent environmental attorney. He has two children, Jed and Tess. Mark is an experienced outdoorsman and mountain climber. He has climbed many of the toughest mountains in the world-including all of Colorado's "Fourteeners."

The West is a distinct part of Mark's heritage. Mark's family has lived in the West for five generations, and the Udall name has become synonymous with quality public service for 150 years. Mark's father, Morris "Mo" Udall, played for the Denver Nuggets before serving 30 years in Congress. In 1976, Mo Udall sought the Democratic nomination for President. Mark's mother, Patricia "Sam" Udall was a native Coloradan. She was an avid outdoorswoman who instilled in Mark his great sense of adventure and love for the wilderness. In 1977, she won a cross-country women's flying competition known as the "Powderpuff Derby." Her father, Roe Emery, was a cowboy-turned-entrepreneur who eventually came to own the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park and was the first concessionaire in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Mark's uncle, Stewart Udall was a Congressman and served as the Secretary of the Interior under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Stewart's son, Tom Udall, is a senator from New Mexico.