William Thomas Redmond is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico. Redmond was born in Chicago. He graduated from Lincoln Christian College and Seminary in 1979 and was ordained as a minister. Redmond later attended Murray State University, earning a degree in special education. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1980 until 1983 as part of an Army chaplain candidate program. Redmond was a minister for the Santa Fe Christian Church and a teacher at University of New Mexico–Los Alamos. He ran for Congress in 1996 and was defeated by the district's longtime Democratic incumbent, Bill Richardson. Three months later, Richardson resigned to become United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Redmond was a candidate in the special election for the balance of Richardson's term. He was initially considered an underdog, but won by 3,000 votes. Green Party candidate Carol Miller took 17% of the vote, running as a more progressive alternative to Democrat Eric Serna. Miller's surprisingly strong campaign may have benefited Redmond by attracting potential Serna voters. Miller received over 17,000 votes, vastly exceeding the 3,000 vote margin Redmond held over Serna. Despite representing a Democratic district, Redmond had an solidly conservative voting record. He ran for a full term in 1998 but lost to state Attorney GeneralTom Udall, who received 53% to Redmond's 43%. Proving just how heavily Democratic this district was, no Republican has made a serious bid for the 3rd since Redmond left Congress. He won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2000 and was defeated by incumbent Jeff Bingaman 62% to 38%. In October 1998, Democrats for Redmond described him as "truly an activist congressman" and "a man of integrity and a man who keeps his word". Reasons expressed for Democratic support for Redmond included "accomplishing more on the Land Grant issue in 16 months than any other elected official in 150 years" and introducing an amendment to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act in order to bring justice to the affected uranium miners of New Mexico. He was also endorsed by the All Indian Pueblo Council for fighting for the rights of Native Americans.
