Advocacy
Standing with families
After leaving the law school in 2014, Antoinette led Enlace Comunitario, a nonprofit advocacy and service organization supporting survivors of domestic violence in Central New Mexico’s Latino immigrant community.
Community leader. Educator. Advocate.
Meet Antoinette
A native New Mexican whose career has been dedicated to service, justice, and opportunity.
Rooted in New Mexico
A lifetime of service
Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez became State Senator for New Mexico Senate District 16 in January 2019.
Antoinette grew up in the small farming village of Los Chavez. She attended UNM and UCLA School of Law, then returned home and found her passion for teaching at the UNM School of Law. She became the school’s first Latina professor to earn tenure and later served as Director and Associate Dean of its legal clinic, where students provided pro bono help to community members.
During a 27-year career in teaching, legal service, and scholarship, she published books, articles, and poems; organized and presented at legal education conferences; and received awards for excellence, service, and leadership.
Public service
Representing District 16
Following Senator Cisco McSorley’s resignation, Antoinette was selected by the Bernalillo County Commission and appointed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. In November 2020, she won election with 78% of the vote, becoming the first woman and first Hispanic person to represent District 16.
In the Senate
Focused on effective policy
Antoinette participates diligently in interim hearings and serves on committees addressing water and natural resources, courts and justice, health and human services, investments and pensions, and legislative oversight. She also helped co-found the Conservation and Environmental Caucus.
Home and family
Proud of her roots
Antoinette and her husband, Victor, raised their family in Albuquerque’s Southeast Heights, where they have lived since 1985. They have three grown children and two grandchildren. She remains devoted to her mother, Perla Otero Martinez, and to her large extended family throughout New Mexico.