James Ellison grew up on the Georgia coast, where a strong work ethic and a deep sense of community responsibility were instilled in him from an early age. He studied political science and physics at Clemson University, then headed north to MIT, where he earned two master's degrees — one in mechanical engineering and one in technology and policy.

After MIT, James went overseas to work with a global power company. He served as director of a 4,000-megawatt power plant, and as director of a 3,500-employee power distribution company serving an area the size of Maryland. He had overall responsibility for these two companies, including responsibility for the budget for both, and responsibility for rate case filings for the distribution company. Running large organizations in a foreign country, making financial decisions with real consequences, and navigating complex regulatory environments — that experience shaped the way James approaches leadership and public service today.

He moved to New Mexico twenty years ago with his wife to take a job at Sandia National Laboratories. They bought a plot of land in the East Mountains and built a house. Their two wonderful boys were born and raised here. New Mexico is home.

At Sandia, James was a member of a team that analyzed critical national infrastructure for the Department of Homeland Security. He worked on both rapid responses to events such as Hurricane Katrina, as well as longer-term analyses such as projecting the impacts of a Southern California earthquake on the ability to supply natural gas to the Los Angeles area. The work demanded rigorous analytical thinking under pressure, often with high stakes and incomplete information.

He took a year off from his work at Sandia National Laboratories to study at Stanford University, where he earned a Master's in Management.

James served as a Commissioner on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission in 2023 and 2024, where he reviewed and approved utility rate cases through rigorous financial analysis — ensuring that rates were fair, just, and reasonable for New Mexico families and businesses. It was hands-on experience applying financial expertise to serve the public interest.

His experience in managing the budgets of two companies, business education, and analytical expertise — combined with the securities analysis and portfolio management training necessary to earn the Chartered Financial Analyst designation — make him well-suited to be our next State Treasurer.

James isn't a career politician. He's someone who has managed large budgets, led complex organizations, analyzed critical infrastructure under pressure, and earned one of the most rigorous credentials in investment management. He believes New Mexicans deserve a Treasurer who manages their $20 billion the way a professional investor would: with discipline, transparency, and accountability.