Steve Pearce Bio
Stevan Edward Pearce (born August 24, 1947) is an American businessman and Republican politician from New Mexico. He served as the U.S. representative for New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district from 2003 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2019, and he was the Republican nominee in the 2008 U.S. Senate race and the 2018 New Mexico gubernatorial election, losing both contests. A former Vietnam War C-130 pilot awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal, Pearce later built a career in the oilfield services industry in southeastern New Mexico. From 2018 to 2024, he chaired the New Mexico Republican Party, and in 2025 President Donald Trump nominated him to lead the Bureau of Land Management.
Throughout his career in public service, Pearce has been closely associated with the oil and gas sector and with conservative policy priorities in New Mexico. He has also drawn attention for his views on climate science, election integrity, and social issues.
Early Life and Background
Stevan Edward Pearce was born in Lamesa, Texas, on August 24, 1947, and was raised in Hobbs, New Mexico. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in economics and was elected president of the student body. He later completed a Master of Business Administration at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales.
Pearce served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War as a C-130 pilot, logging more than 518 hours of combat flight and 77 hours of combat support. For his service, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, and additional military decorations and exceptional service awards. After returning home, he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command at Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas and was honorably discharged at the rank of captain.
After his military service, Pearce and his wife settled in Hobbs, where they owned and operated Lea Fishing Tools, an oilfield services company. In 2003, the couple sold the business to Key Energy Services for $12 million, providing the financial foundation for his entry into state politics.
Path to US Politics
Pearce’s entry into elected office began in 1996, when he won a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 1998, both times running unopposed, giving him a foothold in state government and a record that positioned him for a run at federal office.
In 2000, Pearce sought the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Jeff Bingaman, but he lost the primary to former third district Congressman Bill Redmond, 60 percent to 22 percent. That defeat did not slow his rise; two years later, he launched a successful campaign for New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district, capitalizing on the retirement of longtime incumbent Joe Skeen and winning the Republican primary with about 35 percent of the vote in a five-candidate field. In the general election, he defeated Democratic state senator John Arthur Smith 56 percent to 44 percent, beginning his first stretch in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Steve Pearce Career
Early Career (1996–2002)
Pearce’s political career began with two unopposed elections to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1996 and 1998. He used those terms to build relationships across the Lea County region and to develop a policy record focused on energy, agriculture, and limited government.
After an unsuccessful 2000 Senate primary, Pearce turned his attention to the 2nd congressional district in 2002. He won the Republican primary in a crowded field and the general election decisively, setting the stage for his long tenure in Washington.
House of Representatives (2003–2009)
During his first stint in Congress, Pearce served on the Appropriations Committee and was elected Republican Caucus Chairman. In 2005, he faced an accusation of plagiarism after articles under his name were found to have been copied from think tanks such as The Heritage Foundation. His press secretary, Jim Burns, admitted sole responsibility for the plagiarism and quickly resigned, ending the controversy.
Pearce won re-election in 2004 against Democrat Gary King with 60 percent of the vote, and in 2006 he defeated Democratic pastor Al Kissling with 59 percent. In October 2007, he announced a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. He navigated the Republican pre-primary convention in March 2008 with 55 percent of the vote and narrowly won the June 2008 primary, but in the general election he lost to Democrat Tom Udall, 61 percent to 39 percent. Following the Senate loss, he stepped away from his House seat, allowing Democrat Harry Teague to win the open 2nd district.
Return to Congress (2011–2019)
On August 1, 2009, Pearce announced his intention to retake the 2nd district, and on June 1, 2010, he won the Republican primary without serious opposition, earning an endorsement from former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. In the general election, he defeated incumbent Democrat Harry Teague 55 percent to 45 percent. During the campaign he drew media criticism for declining to state clearly whether he believed President Barack Obama was a natural-born U.S. citizen.
Pearce was re-elected in 2012 with 59 percent of the vote against Evelyn Madrid Erhard, in 2014 with 64 percent against Roxanne “Rocky” Lara, and in 2016 with 62 percent against Merrie Lee Soules. His campaigns received substantial support from the oil and gas sector, including $209,600 from that industry during the 2012 cycle alone, with major donations from Mack Energy Corporation and Yates Petroleum.
2018 Gubernatorial and Party Chair Era
In July 2017, Pearce announced a run for Governor of New Mexico to succeed term-limited Republican Susana Martinez. He won the Republican primary unopposed but lost the November 2018 general election to Democratic U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham. On December 8, 2018, he was elected Chair of the New Mexico Republican Party, replacing Ryan Cangiolosi, and he was re-elected in 2020 and 2022. He opted against seeking a fourth term as chair in 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pearce’s career has been defined by his military service in Vietnam, his rise from a southeastern New Mexico oilfield business to Congress, and his repeated role as a standard-bearer for the New Mexico Republican Party. His signature moments include his 2008 Senate campaign against Tom Udall, his 2010 comeback victory over Harry Teague, and his 2018 gubernatorial run against Michelle Lujan Grisham. In 2025, his nomination by President Donald Trump to lead the Bureau of Land Management marked a new chapter that drew strong criticism from environmental advocates and some free-market groups.
Steve Pearce Career Wins
Across more than two decades in public life, Pearce won five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives, all as a Republican. His House tenure included victories in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, while his statewide bids for the U.S. Senate in 2008 and for governor in 2018 ended in defeat.
Congressional Election Highlights
Pearce first won New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district in 2002 with 56 percent of the vote against John Arthur Smith. After his 2008 Senate run and 2010 return, he posted a 55 percent victory over incumbent Harry Teague, then cruised to re-election in 2012, 2014, and 2016 with 59 percent, 64 percent, and 62 percent of the vote, respectively. His most recent congressional win came in 2016 against Democrat Merrie Lee Soules.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond his electoral record, Pearce earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals for combat service as a C-130 pilot in Vietnam. He also served as Republican Caucus Chairman in the U.S. House and led the New Mexico Republican Party from 2018 to 2024, helping to organize three statewide election cycles in the state.
Steve Pearce Family
Family Background and Public Service Lineage
Stevan Edward Pearce was born in Lamesa, Texas, and raised in Hobbs, New Mexico, the same West Texas community where his 2002 primary rival, rancher Edward R. Tinsley, was reared. Pearce’s own military service as a Vietnam-era Air Force pilot established a family tradition of public service that he later extended into business and elected office.
Personal Life
Pearce has been married to his wife, Cynthia, since 1982. In 2013, he published a memoir titled Just Fly the Plane, Stupid!, which drew public attention for a passage in which he wrote that a wife should “voluntarily submit” to her husband while the husband should “lovingly lead and sacrifice.” Pearce and his family have long been members of Taylor Memorial Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Hobbs.