John Pinto

John Pinto  (December 15, 1924 – May 24, 2019) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the New Mexico Senate from 1977 to his death in 2019, making him the longest-serving member in the Senate. Pinto represented the 3rd District, which includes the Four Corners area and spans much of western San Juan County, as well as a portion of western McKinley County. Much of the district is made up of the Navajo Nation; it includes the towns of Shiprock, Sheep Springs, and most, if not all of Gallup.

Pinto was born in Lupton, Arizona, in the Navajo Nation. Pinto served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and was a Navajo code talker. He was a teacher and organizer for the National Education Association. He died in Gallup, New Mexico, on May 24, 2019 at the age of 94.