Salazar was born in Alamosa, Colorado, the son of Emma M. (Montoya) and Henry (Enrique) S. Salazar.[5][6] His younger brother is former Senator Ken Salazar.
Salazar served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1976, and is a farmer and rancher.[2] His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Adams State College in 1981. Salazar was the owner of an internet company, Spudseed.com, which marketed potatoes, as well as serving as a director of
Monte Vista Production Credit Union and Agro Engineering, Inc.[7]
Salazar served on several Colorado public bodies including the Governor's Economic Development Advisory Board, the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Forum.[7] He also served on the Colorado Agricultural Commission from 1999 to 2002 before being elected to the Colorado House of Representatives from 2003 until 2004.[citation needed]
As a veteran, a son of a veteran, and father of a child serving in the Colorado National Guard as of 2004, Salazar was also vocal against cuts to veterans' benefits. Salazar introduced the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, designed to protect the integrity of medals, to the House of Representatives, which he has cited as his best achievement in politics.[2]
Salazar was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004.[7] His election to succeed retiring RepublicanScott McInnis was one of the most contested House elections of the year.[7] Salazar defeated Greg Walcher who had attacked Salazar as being soft on illegal immigration,[7][15] while Salazar criticised Walcher for his previous support of a failed 2003 referendum which he said would have diverted water from the district, an important issue in western Colorado.[15][16] In a year when Republicans made gains, John Salazar was only one of three Democratic pick-up seats in the House of Representatives.[17]
2006
John Salazar was re-elected in 2006 after his first term in Congress defeating Republican Scott Tipton.[18] John Salazar raised almost three times as much money as Tipton and won over 60% of the vote, including more Republican areas of the district.[19] Salazar had campaigned as a moderate, middle of the road candidate, with the opinion polls having shown him ahead in the election.[19]
Salazar won in 2008 with a similar margin as 2006 defeating rancher and county commissioner Wayne Wolf.[20] Salazar had a massive fundraising advantage over Wolf who only had about $16,000 for the campaign.[20]
Salazar was defeated for re-election by Republican Scott Tipton. Tipton had unsuccessfully challenged Salazar in 2006. Libertarian Gregory Gilman and Independent Jake Segrest were also on the ballot; Independents John W. Hargis, Sr. and James Fritz qualified as write-in candidates.
