Joseph Manuel Montoya was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the lieutenant governor of New Mexico, in the U.S. House of Representatives (1957–1964) and as a U.S. senator from New Mexico (1964–1977).

The lieutenant governor of New Mexico is an elected official in the state of New Mexico that ranks just below the governor of New Mexico. The lieutenant governor is the first person in the order of succession of New Mexico's executive branch, thus serving as governor in the event of the death, resignation, removal, impeachment, absence from the state, or incapacity due to illness of the governor of New Mexico. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four-year term. This position was first filled by Ezequiel Cabeza De Baca on January 6, 1912, the year that New Mexico became a state.