Jerry Apodaca (October 3, 1934 – April 26, 2023) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 24th governor of New Mexico from 1975 to 1979 and chair of the president's council on physical fitness and sports from 1978 to 1980.

Apodaca graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1956 with a bachelor of science degree;[1] he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Apodaca narrowly defeated his Republican opponent, Joe Skeen, later a long-term member of the United States House of Representatives from New Mexico.

During the campaign, Jimmy Carter, the outgoing governor of Georgia and future President of the United States, came to New Mexico to stump for Apodaca.

[3] One of the first appointments Apodaca made was Dr. Charles Becknell to be director of the Governor's Council on Criminal Justice Planning.

A comprehensive Corrections Master Plan for New Mexico was developed with a consulting group, Approach Associates, from Berkeley, California.

"[10] As Colvin states in his book in conclusion to this attempt for prisoner classification and population management on page 125, "This incident underscores the conflict-filled atmosphere under which the corrections administration was operating during 1977 and 1978."

In 1982, he attempted to run for the United States Senate for the seat held by then-incumbent Harrison Schmitt, a Republican and former astronaut.

Apodaca ran against the former Mayor of Albuquerque Martin Chavez, then-State Representative and future Attorney General Gary King, son of former Governor Bruce King, who had just lost the Governorship four years previously, as well as State Auditor Roger Vigil, in the Democratic primary for Governor.