View source for Ken Salazar

{{Short description|American politician and diplomat (born 1955)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Ken Salazar
| image               = Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2022
| office              = [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Mexico|United States Ambassador to Mexico]]
| president           = [[Joe Biden]]
| term_start          = September 14, 2021
| term_end            = January 7, 2025
| predecessor         = [[Christopher Landau]]
| successor           = [[Ronald D. Johnson]]
| office1             = 50th [[United States Secretary of the Interior]]
| president1          = [[Barack Obama]]
| deputy1             = [[David J. Hayes]]
| term_start1         = January 20, 2009
| term_end1           = April 12, 2013
| predecessor1        = [[Dirk Kempthorne]]
| successor1          = [[Sally Jewell]]
| jr/sr2              = United States Senator
| state2              = [[Colorado]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 2005
| term_end2           = January 20, 2009
| predecessor2        = [[Ben Nighthorse Campbell|Ben Campbell]]
| successor2          = [[Michael Bennet]]
| office3             = 36th [[Colorado Attorney General|Attorney General of Colorado]]
| governor3           = [[Bill Owens (Colorado politician)|Bill Owens]]
| term_start3         = January 12, 1999
| term_end3           = January 3, 2005
| predecessor3        = [[Gale Norton]]
| successor3          = [[John Suthers]]
| office4             = Executive Director of the [[Colorado Department of Natural Resources]]
| term_start4         = 1990
| term_end4           = 1994
| governor4           = [[Roy Romer]]
| predecessor4        = Hamlet Barry
| successor4          = James Lochhead
| birth_name          = Kenneth Lee Salazar
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1955|3|2}}
| birth_place         = [[Alamosa, Colorado]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = Hope Hernandez
| children            = 2
| relatives           = [[John Salazar]] (brother)
| education           = [[Colorado College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Michigan]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature           = Ken Salazar Signature.svg
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Secretary Ken Salazar at Senate Energy Committee Hearing.ogg |title=Salazar's voice |type=speech |description=Salazar answering questions from [[Bob Menendez]] at a [[United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources|Senate Energy Committee]] hearing.<br>Recorded March 17, 2009}}
}}
'''Kenneth Lee Salazar''' (born March 2, 1955) is an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat who served as [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Mexico|United States ambassador to Mexico]] from 2021 to 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/USEmbassyMEX/status/1876690261847200201?t=XZFRPnpeYJH2kFqWt1qzNA&s=19 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=x.com}}</ref> He previously served as the 50th [[United States Secretary of the Interior]] in the administration of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] from 2009 to 2013. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he previously was a [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Colorado]] from 2005 to 2009. 

Salazar served as [[Attorney General of Colorado]] from 1999 to 2005. He became the first Latino Senator representing Colorado in 2005. He and [[Mel Martínez]] ([[U.S. Republican Party|R]]-[[Florida]]) were the first [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] U.S. senators since 1977; they were joined by [[Bob Menendez]] (D-[[New Jersey]]) in 2006. 

On December 17, 2008, President-elect Obama announced he would nominate Salazar as U.S. secretary of the interior. The [[Environmentalism|environmentalist]] movement's{{Vague|date=October 2021}} reaction to this nomination was mixed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98347731 |title=Environmentalists Fuming Over Salazar's New Post |first=Jeff |last=Brady |date=December 16, 2008 |work=[[National Public Radio]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/us/politics/18salazarcnd.html |title=Environmentalists Wary of Obama's Interior Pick |first=Jim M. |last=Broder |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 17, 2008}}</ref> Previously, Salazar supported the nomination of [[Gale Norton]] to Secretary of the Interior,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Industry likes Salazar at Obama Interior, not greens |url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200812161644DOWJONESDJONLINE000713_FORTUNE5.htm  |access-date=August 3, 2020 }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> President [[George W. Bush]]'s first appointee who preceded Salazar as Colorado Attorney General. On January 20, 2009, Salazar was confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate. On January 16, 2013, it was reported that Salazar planned to resign his post as [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] in March 2013, but his resignation was delayed pending Senate confirmation of his successor, [[Sally Jewell]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://swampland.time.com/2013/01/16/ap-source-interior-secretary-ken-salazar-leaving/ | title =AP Source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Leaving |publisher =[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date =January 16, 2013 | access-date =January 16, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/01/16/ap_source_interior_secretary_ken_salazar_to_leave_administration_in_march/ |title=AP Source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to leave administration in March |work=salon.com |date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120170418/http://www.salon.com/2013/01/16/ap_source_interior_secretary_ken_salazar_to_leave_administration_in_march/ |archive-date=January 20, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-interior-secretary-ken-salazar-leaving-121750247--politics.html | title =AP source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar leaving | publisher =news.yahoo.com | date =January 16, 2013 | access-date =January 16, 2013}}</ref> On June 10, 2013, he became a partner in the major international law firm of [[Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr|WilmerHale]], and was tasked with opening a Denver office for the firm.<ref name=DP6513>{{cite news|title=Colorado's Ken Salazar joins top law firm, will open a Denver office |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_23399512/colorados-ken-salazar-joins-top-law-firm-will|access-date=June 6, 2013|newspaper=The Denver Post|date=June 5, 2013|author=Lynn Bartels}}</ref> On August 16, 2016, Salazar was appointed to head presidential candidate [[Hillary Clinton]]'s transition team.<ref name="Politico">{{cite news|last1=Karni|first1=Annie|title=Salazar to lead Clinton's transition team|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/clinton-transition-team-white-house-salazar-227044#ixzz4HWktQZlp|publisher=[[Politico]]|date=August 16, 2016}}</ref>

In May 2021, President [[Joe Biden]] nominated Salazar as the [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Mexico|United States ambassador to Mexico]].<ref name=amb1>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/latino/555759-report-mexican-officials-say-salazar-will-be-next-us-ambassador-to-mexico/|title=Report: Mexican officials say Salazar will be next US ambassador to Mexico|publisher=[[Politico]]|date=May 27, 2021|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=amb2>{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/quick-hits/reports-ken-salazar-is-bidens-pick-for-us-ambassador-to-mexico/article_8abd0784-bfde-11eb-a654-a7b1fd33ecb2.html|title=Reports: Ken Salazar is Biden's pick for US ambassador to Mexico|date=May 28, 2021|access-date=May 30, 2021|publisher=Colorado Politics}}</ref><ref name=amb3>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/us/politics/biden-ambassadors-burns-garcetti.html|title=Biden is said to be planning to nominate Burns and Garcetti for ambassadorships|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 26, 2021|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> His nomination was confirmed by a [[Voice vote#United States|voice vote]] in the [[United States Senate]] on August 11, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/735?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Salazar%22%5D%7D&s=3&r=1|title=PN735 — Kenneth Lee Salazar — Department of State|date=August 11, 2021|publisher=Congress.gov|accessdate=August 11, 2021}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Ken Salazar was born in [[Alamosa, Colorado]], the son of Emma Montoya and Enrique Salazar.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Ken Salazar, U.S. Senator from Colorado - Tributes | url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-111sdoc36/pdf/CDOC-111sdoc36.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310040424/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CDOC-111sdoc36/pdf/CDOC-111sdoc36.pdf | archive-date=2016-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alamosanews.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=24813&page=75 |title=Valley Courier Emma Salazar celebrates 90th birthday with community |access-date=February 23, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312100220/http://www.alamosanews.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=24813&page=75 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> His elder brother is former Congressman [[John Salazar]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1867218,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219174419/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1867218,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 19, 2008 | magazine=Time | title=Interior Secretary: Ken Salazar | date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=May 7, 2010 | first=Alex | last=Altman}}</ref> He grew up near [[Manassa, Colorado|Manassa]], in the community of Los Rincones in the [[San Luis Valley]] area of south-central Colorado. Salazar attended St. Francis Seminary and Centauri High School in [[La Jara, Colorado|La Jara]], graduating in 1973. He later attended [[Colorado College]], earning a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[political science]] in 1977, and received his [[Juris Doctor]] from the [[University of Michigan Law School]] in 1981. Later Salazar was awarded [[honorary degree]]s (Doctor of Laws) from Colorado College (1993) and the [[University of Denver]] (1999). After graduating, Salazar started private law practice.

Salazar's [[Hispanic]] roots trace back to the [[Hispanos of New Mexico]] before New Mexico and Colorado were split up when they became part of [[Southwestern United States]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ken Salazar|url=http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/kensalazar.html|publisher=Infoplease}}</ref> He has identified as a [[Mexican American]] saying, "I've been taunted, called names—from 'dirty Mexican' to lots of other names—as I was growing up, and even now as a United States Senator."<ref name=immigration>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Kirk|title=At Fore on Immigration, Senator Has a Story to Tell|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B00E2D71231F932A25755C0A9609C8B63|access-date=February 4, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 11, 2006}} "...I became the first Mexican-American in the history of our country to ever be elected outside the state of New Mexico."</ref>

== Career ==

=== Colorado cabinet ===
In 1986, Salazar became Chief Legal Counsel to then [[Colorado Governor]] [[Roy Romer]]. In 1990, Romer appointed him to his [[Cabinet (government)|Cabinet]] as director of the [[Colorado Department of Natural Resources]].

In this position, he authored the Great Outdoors Colorado Amendment, which created a massive land conservation program of which he became chairman. Salazar also created the Youth in Natural Resources program, giving thousands of Colorado's youth an opportunity to work and learn about Colorado's natural resources in public schools. The Great Outdoors Colorado program's success was a model for [[President Obama]]'s America's Great Outdoors Initiative to create a 21st-century agenda for conservation and outdoor recreation.<ref name="Great Outdoors Colorado History Page">{{cite web |url=http://www.goco.org/about-us/history |title=History, Great Outdoors Colorado |publisher=GoCo.org}}</ref>

In his cabinet role, he established reforms that forced mining and [[petroleum]] operations to better protect the surrounding environment and helped plan and promote Denver's [[South Platte River]] Valley redevelopment, transforming the area from an abandoned wasteland to a vibrant economic center.<ref name="DOIBio">{{cite web|url=http://www.doi.gov/welcome.html|title=Biography of Senator Ken Salazar|work=U.S. Senator Ken Salazar|publisher=United States Senate |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115170727/http://www.doi.gov/welcome.html|archive-date=January 15, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Colorado attorney general ===
In 1994, Salazar returned to private practice. In 1998, he was elected state attorney general; he was reelected to this position in 2002. Police operations were streamlined under Salazar, and several new branches of law enforcement were created: the Gang Prosecution Unit, the Environmental Crimes Unit, and the General Fugitive Prosecutive Unit, which targeted murderers. He also worked to strengthen consumer protection and anti-[[fraud]] laws, as well as to protect children through new policy designed to crack down on [[sex offender]]s.<ref name="DOIBio"/>

As [[Colorado Attorney General]], he also led numerous investigations, including into the 1999 [[Columbine High School massacre]]. Salazar was awarded the Conference of Western Attorneys General Profile in Courage award for his work.<ref name="Speakerpedia Profile">{{cite web |url=https://speakerpedia.com/speakers/ken-salazar |title=Ken Salazar |publisher=speakerpedia.com |access-date=October 21, 2016}}</ref>

During Salazar's tenure, his office pursued several environmental cleanup cases around the state. In a water contamination case involving the [[Summitville mine]] in [[Rio Grande County, Colorado]], Salazar helped broker a joint settlement in which the federal and state government shared the $5 million settlement proceeds.<ref name="Office of the Colorado Attorney General">{{cite web |url=https://coag.gov/about-us/history-colorados-attorneys-general/ken-salazar |title=Ken Salazar, 36th Colorado Attorney General |publisher=coag.gov |access-date=October 27, 2016 |archive-date=October 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029045209/https://coag.gov/about-us/history-colorados-attorneys-general/ken-salazar |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== U.S. Senate ===
In [[2004 United States Senate election in Colorado|2004]], Salazar declared his candidacy for the [[United States Senate]] seat being vacated by retiring [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] Senator [[Ben Nighthorse Campbell]]. Salazar considers himself a [[moderate]] and has at times taken positions that are in disagreement with the base of his party. He opposed [[LGBT adoption in the United States|gay adoption]] for a number of years, although by 2004 he had reversed his position.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6200928 | title =Transcript for October 10 | publisher =[[NBC News]] | date =October 12, 2004 | access-date =August 17, 2016}}</ref> Salazar fell behind to candidate Mike Miles early in the state's caucus process. The national Democratic Party backed Salazar with contributions from the DSCC, and Salazar came back to defeat Miles in the Democratic [[Partisan primary|primary]], going on to defeat [[beer]] executive [[Pete Coors]] of the [[Coors Brewing Company]] and win the [[general election]] for the Senate seat. He assumed office on January 3, 2005.

[[Image:Kensalazar.jpg|thumb|upright|Salazar while serving as a U.S. Senator ([[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]])]]

Salazar was a leading member of a bipartisan group of senators that developed the [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007]], which would have provided a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and increased funding for border security, though the bill ultimately failed in the Senate. During negotiations, Salazar was quoted by ''[[The New York Times]]'' saying he wanted the new point system to be equitable: "We do not want to create a system that is just for the wealthiest and most educated immigrants."<ref>{{cite news|last=Pear|first=Robert|author2=David Stout |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/washington/17cnd-immig.html|title=Deal Is Reached in Senate on Immigration |work=The New York Times |date=May 17, 2007|agency=New York Times |access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>

On May 23, 2005, Salazar was among the [[Gang of 14]] moderate senators to forge a compromise on the Democrats' use of the [[filibuster]] against judicial appointments, thus blocking the Republican leadership's attempt to implement the so-called "[[nuclear option]]". Under the agreement, the Democrats would retain the power to filibuster a Bush judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and the three most conservative Bush [[appellate court]] nominees ([[Janice Rogers Brown]], [[Priscilla Owen]] and [[William H. Pryor, Jr.|William Pryor]]) would receive a vote by the full Senate. Salazar has skirmished with [[Focus on the Family]], a Colorado-based [[Christian right|conservative Christian]] group of national stature, over his stance on judicial nominees.

In 2005, Salazar voted against increasing fuel-efficiency standards ([[Corporate Average Fuel Economy|CAFE]]) for cars and trucks, a vote that the League of Conservation Voters believes is anti-environment. In the same year, Salazar voted against an amendment to repeal tax breaks for [[ExxonMobil]] and other major [[petroleum]] companies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/scorecard.lcv.org/files/LCV_Scorecard_2005.pdf |title=2005 National Environmental Scorecard |publisher=League of Conservation Voters}}</ref>

In August 2006, Ken Salazar supported fellow Democratic Senator [[Joe Lieberman]] in his primary race against [[Ned Lamont]] in [[Connecticut]]. Lamont, running primarily as an [[anti-war]] candidate, won the primary. Salazar's continued support of Lieberman, who successfully ran as an independent against Lamont, has rankled the anti-war wing of the Democratic Party.

In 2006, Salazar voted to end protections that limit [[offshore oil drilling]] in [[Florida]]'s [[Gulf of Mexico|Gulf]] Coast.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/scorecard.lcv.org/files/LCV_Scorecard_2005.pdf |title=2006 National Environmental Scorecard |publisher=League of Conservation Voters}}</ref>

Salazar introduced legislation, co-sponsored by Colorado Reps. [[John Salazar]] and [[Mark Udall]] to limit [[natural gas]] drilling on the environmentally-rich [[Roan Plateau]] in western Colorado. The bill increased the amount of acreage on the Plateau designated too environmentally sensitive to drill for gas.<ref>{{cite web| title =Colorado Dems sponsor bill to limit drilling on Roan Plateau| publisher =[[Associated Press]]| date =April 17, 2008 |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2008/04/17/colorado-dems-sponsor-bill-to-limit-drilling-on-roan-plateau/| access-date =November 4, 2016 }}</ref>

Salazar worked in the Senate to give benefits to [[Rocky Flats]] workers who became ill after working at the former nuclear weapons plant in Colorado. The legislation would grant workers immediate access to medical coverage and compensation without the need to file individual health claims.<ref>{{cite web |title=Salazar reintroduces bill to compensate ex-Rocky Flat workers| publisher =[[Associated Press]]| date =March 1, 2007 |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2007/03/01/salazar-reintroduces-bill-to-compensate-ex-rocky-flat-workers/| access-date =November 7, 2016 }}</ref>

In 2007, Salazar was one of only a handful of Democrats to vote against a bill that would require the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] to consider [[global warming]] when planning water projects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scorecard.lcv.org/sites/scorecard.lcv.org/files/LCV_Scorecard_2005.pdf |title=2007 National Environmental Scorecard |publisher=League of Conservation Voters}}</ref>

Salazar received a 25 percent vote rating for 2007 by the [[Humane Society of the United States]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3931 |title=The Humane Society of the United States |publisher=Project Vote Smart |year=2007 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> a zero percent vote rating for 2005–2006 by [[Fund for Animals]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3631 |title=Fund for Animals |publisher=Project Vote Smart |access-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-date=November 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127072304/http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3631 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a 60 percent vote rating for 2007 by [[Defenders of Wildlife]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3939 |title=Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund |publisher=Project Vote Smart |year=2007 |access-date=December 16, 2008 |archive-date=November 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081127132651/http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3939 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a zero percent vote rating on the [[Animal Welfare Institute]] Compassion Index.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://capwiz.com/compassionindex/dbq/vote_info/?offset=75&length=25&session=110&chamber=S&command=results&sort=Last&state= | title=Compassion Index | publisher=Animal Welfare Institute | access-date=May 22, 2009 | archive-date=September 9, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909032421/http://capwiz.com/compassionindex/dbq/vote_info/?offset=75&length=25&session=110&chamber=S&command=results&sort=Last&state= | url-status=dead }}</ref> He also supported the Bush administration's release of lands in the [[Conservation Reserve Program]] (CRP) for emergency haying in Colorado's [[Yuma County, Colorado|Yuma]] and [[Phillips County, Colorado|Phillips Counties]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://salazar.senate.gov/news/releases/080807crphay.htm |title=Sen. Salazar Lauds USDA's Decision to Allow CRP Haying in Yuma, Phillips Counties |date=August 7, 2008 |publisher=U.S. Senator Ken Salazar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217004755/http://salazar.senate.gov/news/releases/080807crphay.htm |archive-date=December 17, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Salazar has an 81 percent lifetime rating from the [[League of Conservation Voters]], including a 100 percent rating for the year 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=31624&congress=1102&lvl=C |title=Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) |publisher=League of Conservation Voters |access-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-date=December 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221011112/http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=31624&congress=1102&lvl=C |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Salazar resigned his Senate seat on January 20, 2009, upon his confirmation by the Senate to become [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]] under President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/18509866/detail.html|title=Ken Salazar Resigns From Senate|date=January 19, 2009 | publisher =[[KMGH Denver]]|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 20, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122210619/http://thedenverchannel.com/news/18509866/detail.html|archive-date=January 22, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== U.S. Secretary of the Interior ===
[[File:20081217 PRESSER-5055.jpg|thumb|left|Salazar during a media conference of the Obama-Biden transition, on December 17, 2008.]]

Salazar accepted Obama's offer to join his cabinet as the Secretary of the Interior.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/the_wests_new_land_lords/C41/L41/ |first=Courtney |last=Lowery |title=Salazar, Vilsack: The West's New Land Lords |date=December 17, 2008 |publisher=NewWest |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220221345/http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/the_wests_new_land_lords/C41/L41/ |archive-date=December 20, 2008}}</ref> His appointment triggered a [[Saxbe fix]] by Congress.<ref name=TROTSF>{{cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081219/pl_politico/27414|title=Congress to cut Cabinet salaries -- again|access-date=December 20, 2008|date=December 19, 2008|publisher=[[Yahoo! Inc. (1995–2017)|Yahoo! Inc.]]|work=Yahoo! News}}</ref> On January 7, 2009, Congress approved a bill, {{USBill|111|SJ|3}}, and President [[George W. Bush]] signed it into law, providing such a fix by reducing the Secretary of Interior's salary to the level it was prior to the time Salazar took office in January 2009.

[[File:Ken Salazar official DOI portrait.jpg|thumb|right|Salazar served as a [[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]]]]

The Senate confirmed Salazar's nomination by voice vote on January 20, 2009, shortly after Obama was sworn in as president.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/37894759.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c::D3aDhU6:_0c:QyDiiUiacyKUU |title=Senate confirms 6 cabinet secretaries, puts off vote on Clinton |last=Abrams |first=Jim |date=January 20, 2009 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 20, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122121329/http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/37894759.html?elr=KArks8c7PaP3E77K_3c%3A%3AD3aDhU6%3A_0c%3AQyDiiUiacyKUU |archive-date=January 22, 2009}}</ref> As Secretary of the Interior, Salazar was in charge of the [[National Park Service]], the [[Bureau of Land Management]], the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]], the [[United States Geological Survey]], the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]], and other federal agencies overseen by the Interior Department.

Salazar was one of two Hispanics serving in Obama's Cabinet, along with [[United States Secretary of Labor|Secretary of Labor]] [[Hilda Solis]] of [[California]]. Salazar is the second Hispanic Interior Secretary after [[Manuel Lujan, Jr.]], who held the post from 1989 to 1993 under President [[George H. W. Bush]].

As secretary of the department, Salazar began a large-scale effort within the department to ensure that the country's [[national parks]] and national monuments were inclusive of America's tribal and minority communities. Salazar worked to create new monuments to honor [[Cesar Chavez]], the [[Buffalo Soldiers]], [[Harriet Tubman]] and the [[Underground Railroad]], [[Fort Monroe]] and sacred Native American sites like [[Chimney Rock National Monument|Chimney Rock]] in Colorado.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/297709-salazar-as-clinton-transition-chief-will-usher-in/ |title=Salazar, as Clinton transition chief, will usher in diversity, not walls |first=Nita |last=Gonzales |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |date=September 25, 2016}}</ref>

Several prominent environmentalist groups were wary of Salazar, noting his strong ties with the coal and mining industries. [[Kieran Suckling]], executive director of Center for Biological Diversity, which tracks endangered species and habitat issues stated, "He [Ken Salazar] is a right-of-center Democrat who often favors industry and big [[agriculture]] in battles over [[global warming]], [[fuel efficiency]] and [[endangered species]]."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/us/politics/18salazarcnd.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp |title=Environmentalists Wary of Obama's Interior Pick |first=Jim M. |last=Broder |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 17, 2008}}</ref>

The nomination was praised, however, by [[Gene Karpinski]], President of the [[League of Conservation Voters]]. Upon the nomination, Karpinski said, "Throughout his career, Senator Salazar has campaigned on a pledge of support for 'our land, our water, our people.' With a perfect 100% score on the 2008 LCV Scorecard, he has lived up to that pledge. As a westerner, Senator Salazar has hands on experience with land and water issues, and will restore the Department of the Interior's role as the steward of America's public resources. We look forward to working with him to protect the health of America's land, water, and people in the coming years."<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/new-cabinet-choices-reaffirm-obama-s-new-direction-on-energy-and-the-environment.html |title=New Cabinet Choices Reaffirm Obama's New Direction on Energy and the Environment |publisher=League of Conservation Voters |date=December 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502044141/http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/new-cabinet-choices-reaffirm-obama-s-new-direction-on-energy-and-the-environment.html |archive-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref>

Although Senate Republicans were expected to raise questions concerning Salazar's stances on [[oil shale]] development and drilling in environmentally sensitive areas,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/rockymountainnews/20081217/pl_rockymountainnews/coloradogovernorrittermumsensalazarsreplacem_1233627300 |first=M.E. |last=Sprengelmeyer |title=Interior Secretary Salazar: Confirmation outlook smooth |date=December 17, 2008 |publisher=[[Yahoo! Inc. (1995–2017)|Yahoo! Inc.]] |work=Yahoo! News}}</ref> Salazar was one of several Obama Cabinet appointees confirmed in the Senate by voice vote on January 20, 2009, shortly after Obama's inauguration. Salazar became the 50th Secretary of the Interior succeeding [[Dirk Kempthorne]], who praised Salazar's appointment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/idahopolitics/story/607045.html |title=Dirk Kempthorne says Sen. Ken Salazar will make a fine Interior secretary |work=[[Idaho Statesman]] |date=December 17, 2008}}</ref>

Colorado [[Governor of Colorado|Governor]] [[Bill Ritter]] appointed Denver Superintendent of Schools [[Michael Bennet]] to finish Salazar's term in the Senate, which expired in January 2011.

[[File:Secretary of the Interior.jpg|thumb|[[Maria Burks]], commissioner of the [[National Parks of New York Harbor]], and Ken Salazar at the [[Statue of Liberty]] in May 2009.]]
On January 23, 2009, Salazar stated that he was considering reopening the [[Statue of Liberty]]'s crown to tourists. The crown has been closed to the public since the September 11, 2001 attacks. "I hope we can find a way", Salazar said in a statement. "It would proclaim to the world—both figuratively and literally—that the path to the light of liberty is open to all."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=axx38fOEUykM&refer=us |title=Salazar Visits Statue of Liberty, May Reopen Crown | access-date=January 23, 2009 |date=January 23, 2009 | publisher=Bloomberg.com}}</ref>

On March 6, 2009, Salazar agreed to move forward with the [[Fish and Wildlife Service]]'s decision to remove the [[Rocky Mountain]] [[gray wolf]] from the [[Endangered Species List]] in [[Montana]] and [[Idaho]], but not [[Wyoming]]. Minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains is at least 30 breeding pairs and at least 300 wolves for at least three consecutive years, a goal that was attained in 2002 and has been exceeded every year since. (There are currently about 95 breeding pairs and 1,600 wolves in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doi.gov/news/09_News_Releases/030609b.html |title=Secretary Salazar Affirms Decision to Delist Gray Wolves in Western Great Lakes, Portion of Northern Rockies |access-date=March 5, 2009 |date=March 6, 2009 |publisher=doi.gov |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311141635/http://www.doi.gov/news/09_News_Releases/030609b.html |archive-date=March 11, 2009 }}</ref> Salazar, a former rancher has come under criticism of groups like the [[Defenders of Wildlife]] for this decision, and lack of protection of wolves.

On May 9, 2009, Salazar announced the upholding of a Bush-era policy that prevents the regulation of [[greenhouse gas emissions]] via the [[Endangered Species Act|Endangered Species Act (ESA)]], a policy he pledged to reevaluate when he took office in January. The policy states that, despite the apparent negative impact [[global warming]] has on [[polar bears]], an endangered species, greenhouse gasses cannot be regulated with the ESA. Salazar stated in a conference call announcing the decision that "The single greatest threat to the polar bear is the melting of Arctic Sea ice due to climate change," but the Endangered Species Act "is not the appropriate tool for us to deal with what is a global issue." The decision was met with criticism from environmental groups and praise from energy groups including the [[American Petroleum Institute]], some Democrats and many Republicans. Salazar contended in the same conference call that the ESA was never intended to be used for the regulation of climate change, while sidestepping questions of how this situation is different from that of the Clean Air Act, which is being used by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] to regulate emissions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-polar-bear9-2009may09,0,4415244.story | title=No global warming crackdown for polar bears |access-date=May 8, 2009 |date=May 9, 2009 | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | first=Jim | last=Tankersley}}</ref>

In May 2009, [[Governor of Colorado|Colorado Governor]] [[Bill Ritter]], and the state's both senators, Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, wrote a letter to President Obama, recommending Salazar be appointed to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] following the resignation of [[David Souter]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-23 |title=Salazar: A Supreme suggestion |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/05/23/salazar-a-supreme-suggestion/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref> Salazar stated on the [[Today (American TV program)|''Today'']] that he was not interested and enjoyed his current job.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2009-05-23 |title=Ken Salazar touted for US Supreme Court post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/05/23/ken-salazar-touted-for-us-supreme-court-post/ |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref> [[United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit|United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Judge]] [[Sonia Sotomayor]] was eventually [[Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination|nominated]] and confirmed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raju |first=Manu |title=Sotomayor wins confirmation 68-31 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/08/sotomayor-wins-confirmation-68-31-025871 |access-date=2022-10-22 |website=POLITICO |date=August 6, 2009 |language=en}}</ref>

With Ritter's announcement on January 6, 2010, that he would not seek re-election as governor,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/58081-next-dem-to-bow-out-ritter/|title=Next Dem to bow out: Ritter|first=Aaron|last=Blake|date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> speculation began to swirl about a possible Salazar candidacy [[2010 Colorado gubernatorial election|that year]]. Congressman [[John Salazar]], Salazar's brother, told local media that he thought his brother would likely run for governor. [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]] Mayor [[John Hickenlooper]] indicated that while he was considering a run himself, he would "do everything [he could] to help him get elected."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com/error/404|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719010540/http://www.9news.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=130211&catid=339|archive-date=July 19, 2012|url-status=dead|title=Colorado Governor Bill Ritter not running for re-election|website=www.9news.com|access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> Both the Secretary's brother, John, and the [[Obama administration]] urged him to run for governor,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_14134401 | work=Denver Post | first=Michael | last=Riley |title=Salazar gets White House OK for run | date=January 6, 2010}}</ref> but he ultimately declined and endorsed Hickenlooper's campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0110/Salazar_not_running_for_governor_backing_Hickenlooper.html|title=Salazar not running for governor, backing Hickenlooper - POLITICO.com|last=POLITICO|website=www.politico.com}}</ref>

On April 28, 2010, Ken Salazar approved [[Cape Wind]],<ref name="ReuApprov">Krasny, Ros. [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63R42X20100428?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews Cape Wind, first U.S. offshore wind farm, approved] ''Reuters'', April 28, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010</ref><ref name="bglobeApprov">Jackson, Derrick Z. [https://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/05/01/the_winds_of_change/ The winds of change] ''Boston Globe'', May 1, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010</ref> the first-ever commercial wind operation in public water, leading to initiation of the approval process for the first-of-its-kind Atlantic wind energy transmission line.<ref>{{cite magazine| last =Robinson| first =Jamila| title =Transmission Project for Offshore Wind Power Clears Hurdle |magazine =[[The Atlantic]]| date =May 14, 2012| url =https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/transmission-project-for-offshore-wind-power-clears-hurdle/437160/| access-date =October 30, 2016 }}</ref>

During his time as secretary, Salazar successfully developed and implemented numerous renewable energy initiatives on public lands and helped lead the Obama administration's "all of the above" energy strategy.<ref>{{cite news| last =Mendoza| first =Monica| title =Ken Salazar praised as 'trailblazer' |newspaper=[[Denver Business Journal]]| date =May 22, 2015| url =http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/print-edition/2015/05/22/ken-salazar-praised-as-trailblazer.html| access-date =October 30, 2016 }}</ref>

Secretary Salazar prioritized the rapid, responsible development of [[renewable energy]] on America's public lands, greenlighting the development of over 11,000 megawatts of renewable energy on public lands, including approval of the first-ever [[solar energy]] projects on public lands, and creation of the first-ever roadmap for future solar energy development in the West.<ref>{{cite news| last =Dearen| first =Jason| title =Solar development plan OK'd| newspaper =[[Boston Globe]]| date =October 13, 2012| url =https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/10/12/plan-streamline-solar-development-west/XvPwLSfPsd1tc0s83kox5M/story.html| access-date =October 31, 2016 }}</ref>

During Salazar's tenure, the department also undertook new surveys to evaluate and identify innovative capacity and efficiency increases to help enhance [[hydropower]] generation at facilities of the [[Bureau of Reclamation]], the nation's second-largest hydropower producer.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Memorandum of understanding for hydropower among the department of energy, the department of the interior and the department of the army | url=https://www.usbr.gov/power/SignedHydropowerMOU.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524023531/http://www.usbr.gov/power/SignedHydropowerMOU.pdf | archive-date=May 24, 2012 | access-date=November 1, 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>

He has dealt with criticism after pushing to impose tougher leasing rules and cancel a series of planned drilling operations in [[Alaska]] and elsewhere. Salazar has dealt with criticism over his handling of the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]], both because of the way his agency handled the permitting process for underwater drilling, and also because of the way the aftermath of the spill has been handled by the government.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mason|first=Julie|title=Salazar may become fall guy in oil spill debacle|magazine=[[The Washington Examiner]]|date=June 2, 2010|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Salazar-may-become-fall-guy-in-oil-spill-debacle-95436054.html|access-date=June 2, 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

But Salazar also ushered in the most comprehensive offshore oil and gas safety initiatives and reforms ever in the United States, overhauling the government's antiquated and conflicted offshore oil and gas management program while approving millions of acres for oil and gas development offshore.<ref>{{cite web| title =Secretary Salazar Outlines Vision for a Safe, Secure, Clean Energy Future at the Woodrow Wilson Center| publisher =[[Department of the Interior]]| date =September 30, 2010| url =https://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Secretary-Salazar-Outlines-Vision-for-a-Safe-Secure-Clean-Energy-Future-at-the-Woodrow-Wilson-Center| access-date =November 6, 2016 }}</ref> Salazar also implemented a new five-year plan for responsible [[hydrocarbon exploration|oil and gas exploration]] and development in America's offshore waters.<ref>{{cite web| title =Secretary Salazar Announces Comprehensive Strategy for Offshore Oil and Gas Development and Exploration| publisher =[[Department of the Interior]]| date =March 31, 2010| url =https://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/2010_03_31_release| access-date =November 7, 2016 }}</ref>

In May 2010 Salazar testified to Congress that he had issued a "hit the pause button" order and that no new permits had been issued since the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. However, a new deepwater well had been started in the Gulf since April 20, and the Department of the Interior under Salazar had "issued permits for at least seventeen other new offshore oil projects."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/time-salazar-go|title=Time for Salazar to Go?|newspaper=The Nation|date=May 27, 2010 }}</ref>

As Secretary of the Interior, Salazar was the [[designated survivor]] for the [[2011 State of the Union Address]].

Salazar created new partnerships between the [[Department of the Interior]] and American mayors and governors to create and revitalize a new generation of urban parks in cities such as [[New York City]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Bloomberg-Launch-Great-Urban-Park-Vision-for-New-York-City|title=AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS: Salazar, Bloomberg Launch Great Urban Park Vision for New York City|website=www.doi.gov|date=February 17, 2011}}</ref> [[Denver]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pressrel/2012/Greenway%20PR.pdf|title=Secretary Salazar, Governor Hickenlooper Sign Agreement to Establish Rocky Mountain Greenway as America's Next Great Urban Park}}</ref> [[Chicago]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Announces-1-million-for-Millennium-Reserve-Restoration-and-Conservation-Projects|title=AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS: Salazar Announces $1 million for Millennium Reserve Restoration and Conservation Projects|website=www.doi.gov|date=August 16, 2012}}</ref> and [[St. Louis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2010/12/11/salazar-lahood-laud-arch-upgrade-plan/|title=Salazar, LaHood laud Arch upgrade plan|access-date=November 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104204554/http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2010/12/11/salazar-lahood-laud-arch-upgrade-plan/|archive-date=November 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> As secretary, the department also created seven new [[national parks]], including [[Pinnacles National Park]] in [[California]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Hannula|first=Tarmo|title=Salazar, local officials christen Pinnacles National Park|publisher=[[Register-Pajaronian]]|date=February 12, 2013|url=http://www.register-pajaronian.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=13970|access-date=November 2, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104205531/http://www.register-pajaronian.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=13970|archive-date=November 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and 10 new national monuments.<ref>{{cite news| last =Broder| first =John| title =Interior Secretary to Step Down in March| newspaper =[[The New York Times]]| date =January 16, 2013| url =https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/us/politics/salazar-to-leave-interior-department.html| access-date =November 2, 2016 }}</ref>

In May 2012, Salazar spoke at the commencement ceremony for the 2012 class at the [[University of Massachusetts Lowell]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2012/commencement-day-2012.aspx|title=U.S. Secretary of Interior Headlines UMass Lowell Commencement|access-date=July 23, 2012|archive-date=September 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910175947/http://www.uml.edu/News/press-releases/2012/commencement-day-2012.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2012, asked a question he did not like by a reporter for [[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|''The Gazette'']] regarding Salazar's association with hauler who shipped wild horses to slaughter plants, Salazar told the reporter, "If you do that to me again, I'll punch you out". Salazar later apologized.<ref name=NYT111412>{{cite news|title=Colorado: Interior Secretary Apologizes to Reporter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/us/colorado-interior-secretary-apologizes-to-reporter.html|access-date=November 15, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 14, 2012|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.humanesociety.org/wayne/2015/10/wild-horse-slaughter-salazar-blm-link.html?credit=web_id84842718|title=Inspector General Report Confirms Mass Slaughter of Wild Horses During Reign of Then-Interior Secretary Ken Salazar · A Humane Nation|date=October 26, 2015}}</ref>

In January 2013 Salazar announced that he would be resigning as Secretary of the Interior. His replacement, [[Sally Jewell]], was nominated on February 6, 2013,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/us/politics/obama-chooses-rei-executive-to-lead-interior-dept.html|title=Obama's Choice to Lead Interior Dept. Has Oil Sector and Conservation Credentials|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=August 17, 2016|date=February 6, 2013|last1=Broder|first1=John M.}} | publisher=[[The New York Times]]</ref> approved by the Senate on April 10, 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/147230-senate-votes-87-11-to-confirm-sally-jewell-as-secretary-of-the-interior/|title=Senate votes 87-11 to confirm Sally Jewell as secretary of the Interior|access-date=August 17, 2016|date=April 10, 2013 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] }}</ref> and sworn in on April 12, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/us/politics/interior-secretary-sally-jewell-savors-a-steep-learning-curve.html|title=Interior Secretary Sally Jewell Savors a Steep Learning Curve|first=John M.|last=Broder|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

=== Private sector ===
On June 10, 2013, Salazar became a partner in the major international law firm of [[Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr|WilmerHale]], and was tasked with opening a Denver office for the firm.<ref name=DP6513/> He remained with the firm for eight years.<ref name=WH52125>{{cite web |url=https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/news/20250520-secretary-ken-salazar-former-us-ambassador-to-mexico-rejoins-wilmerhale |title=Secretary Ken Salazar, Former US Ambassador to Mexico, Rejoins WilmerHale |date=May 21, 2025 |website=wilmerhale.com |access-date=October 20, 2025 }}</ref>

===Clinton transition team===
On August 16, 2016, [[Hillary for America]] chairman [[John Podesta]] announced that Secretary Clinton had chosen Salazar to head her transition team in order to prepare for an orderly transition should she be elected as the 45th [[President of the United States]].<ref name="Politico" />

On November 8, 2016, [[Donald Trump]] defeated [[Hillary Clinton]] in the election for President of the United States, and thus Salazar was not granted the opportunity to head the [[White House]] transition team.

===U.S. Ambassador to Mexico===
[[File:Ken Salazar, Ambassador to Mexico.png|thumb|Salazar in 2021]]
On June 15, 2021, President [[Joe Biden]] nominated Salazar to be the next [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Mexico|U.S. ambassador to Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Nine More Individuals to Serve as Ambassadors |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/15/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-nine-more-individuals-to-serve-as-ambassadors/ |website=The White House |date=June 15, 2021 |access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> The [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]] held hearings for his nomination on July 28, 2021. Salazar's nomination was then reported favorably by the committee on August 4, 2021. His nomination was confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on August 11, 2021, by [[voice vote]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PN735 - Nomination of Kenneth Lee Salazar for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/735?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22salazar%22%2C%22salazar%22%5D%7D&s=2&r=1 |website=www.congress.gov |access-date=29 June 2022 |date=11 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/ken-salazar-confirmed-ambassador-mexico-6783d5af-dba6-4be9-b5ea-8baa4523693a.html|title=Senate confirms Ken Salazar as U.S. ambassador to Mexico|date=August 11, 2021|publisher=Axios|accessdate=August 11, 2021}}</ref> He was ceremoniously sworn in by Vice President [[Kamala Harris]] on September 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgSkrLu1E8k  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/kgSkrLu1E8k |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Vice President Harris Ceremonially Swears In Ken Salazar as Ambassador to Mexico |date=September 2, 2021 |type=[[YouTube]] video |publisher=[[White House]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On September 14, 2021, Salazar presented his credentials to President [[Andrés Manuel López Obrador]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-14 |title=Ken Salazar ya es el nuevo embajador de EU en México: AMLO recibe su carta credencial |url=https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/nacional/2021/09/14/ken-salazar-ya-es-el-nuevo-embajador-de-eu-en-mexico-amlo-recibe-su-carta-credencial/ |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=El Financiero |language=es}}</ref> In July 2022, ''[[the New York Times]]'' published an article quoting "growing concern within the [[Joe Biden|Biden]] administration that the ambassador may have actually compromised U.S. interests" and had become too close to sitting Mexican President [[Andrés Manuel López Obrador]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/05/world/americas/united-states-mexico-diplomacy.html|title=Has Biden's Top Diplomat in Mexico Gone Too Far, Officials Ask?|first1=Natalie|last1=Kitroeff|first2=Maria|last2=Abi-Habib|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 5, 2022}}</ref>

=== Return to private sector ===
On May 21, 2025, it was announced that Salazar would rejoin WilmerHale as the law firm's Senior Counsel, based in their Denver office.<ref name=WH52125/>

== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin | title=2004 Colorado U.S. Senate race }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Ken Salazar
  |votes      = 1,081,188
  |percentage = 51.3
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Pete Coors]]
  |votes      = 980,668
  |percentage = 47.4
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
  |loser      = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=2002 Attorney General of Colorado race<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2002AbstractBook.pdf |title=Official Publication of the Abstract Cast for the 2001 Coordinated 2002 Primary 2002 General |publisher=Colorado's Secretary of State |date=October 17, 2010}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Ken Salazar ([[Incumbent|Inc.]])
  |votes      = 803,200
  |percentage = 57.92
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Marti Allbright
  |votes      = 522,281
  |percentage = 37.66
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Alison "Sunny" Mayna
  |votes      = 35,301
  |percentage = 2.54
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dwight K. Harding
  |votes      = 26,023
  |percentage = 1.88
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=1998 Attorney General of Colorado race<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=8&year=1998&f=0&off=9 |title=1998 Attorney General General Election Results - Colorado |publisher=USA elections atlas |access-date=February 14, 2016 |date=October 17, 2010}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Ken Salazar
  |votes      = 634,159
  |percentage = 49.96
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[John Suthers]]
  |votes      = 601,774
  |percentage = 47.41
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Wayne White
  |votes      = 33,470
  |percentage = 2.64
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing
  |winner     = Democratic Party (United States)
  |loser      = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==
* [[Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates]]
* [[List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090115170727/http://www.doi.gov/welcome.html Biography] at the [[United States Department of the Interior]]
* {{CongLinks | congbio=s001163 | votesmart=1541 | fec=S4CO00163 | congress= }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323014314/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ken_Salazar Profile] at [[SourceWatch]]
*{{C-SPAN|49639}}

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