U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, right, with Sen. Tom Udall. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Senator’s retirement opens up a much-coveted seat and could reshape the New Mexico political map
(Updated several times, still developing. Check back for additional updates.)
U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., will retire rather than seeking a sixth term next year.
Bingaman plans to make the formal announcement at 1:30 p.m. today at Hotel Andaluz in Albuquerque. The announcement will be webcast live.
“Representing the people of New Mexico in the Senate is a great honor, and a great responsibility which I have enjoyed for over 28 years,” Bingaman will say, according to spokeswoman Jude McCartin.
“At the end of this Congress, I will have been in public service for 34 years – four as New Mexico’s attorney general, and thirty in the United States Senate,” he will say.
The news of Bingaman’s retirement was first reported by the Washington Post.
The retirement of Bingaman, 67, opens up a much-coveted seat and could reshape the New Mexico political map. Sources say Democrats who are considering running include U.S. Reps. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján and former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. On the Republican side, former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson has already said she’s considering running, and two less-known candidates have already entered the race.
In addition, a source close to U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., confirmed that the congressman “will take a serious look at” running for the Senate seat.
Wilson didn’t want to talk about what Bingaman’s retirement means for her consideration of the race.
“Senator Bingaman has served well and faithfully, and today is his day,” she said.
Bingaman had been expected by most to seek re-election. Though McCartin said in November that a formal announcement wasn’t likely until March, she also pointed out that he held a campaign fundraiser last October.
Late last year, sources told NMPolitics.net they expected Bingaman to seek another term. Instead, a senator who has held his seat since 1983 is bowing out after a lengthy career in public service that has included chairing the Senate Energy Committee and having a lot of influence in Washington.
Reaction to Bingaman’s retirement
Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican, issued a statement wishing Bingaman the best and stating that his “commitment and service to our great state has truly made a lasting and positive impact on every one of its citizens.”
“Today, New Mexicans offer their sincere thanks and gratitude to an upstanding man of character who has served his state with great honor and distinction,” Martinez said. “For nearly 30 years, Jeff Bingaman has represented New Mexico in the U.S. Senate and, during that time, he has served as a strong advocate for his constituents and contributed significantly to some of the most important debates in our nation’s history.”
State Auditor Hector Balderas, a Democrat, called Bingaman “one of the few public servants to exemplify the best in America.”
“Dedicated, hard working and whip smart, he uses his gifts to move our state forward through challenging times with an eye on what is truly best for our state in the long-term,” Balderas said, adding that he looks forward to continuing to work with Bingaman over the course of the next two years before his retirement.
Balderas said one of Bingaman’s “greatest unspoken legacies” will be “that he has served as role model to young elected officials like myself on how to comport oneself in public life — focus on making people’s lives better and do so with humility.”
Javier Gonzales, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, said Bingaman “has been a strong and steady leader always focused on what’s best for all New Mexicans.”
“Senator Bingaman has been a tireless leader on energy, public lands, health care, education, immigration and his courageous vote against the Iraq war,” Gonzales said. “I join all New Mexicans in thanking Senator Bingaman for his service. His wisdom and experience will be sorely missed.”
Pearce spokesman Eric Layer initially said the congressman had no comment on Bingaman’s retirement. He added that Pearce’s priority “is serving the Second (Congressional) District.” He later released a statement in which Pearce congratulated Bingaman, saying he had “worked as a tireless public servant for more than three decades.”
“It has been and continues to be a privilege to call Jeff my friend and colleague,” Pearce said. “I look forward to working alongside him in his last two years serving the people of New Mexico.”
Senate race will be hotly contested
The National Republican Senatorial Committee was quick to strike following news of Bingaman’s retirement. From a news release:
“It speaks volumes about the state of the two political parties that as strong Republican candidates step forward in key races, Senate Democrats in important battleground states are stepping aside. Like the earlier retirements in North Dakota and Virginia, Senator Bingaman’s decision immediately presents another strong pickup opportunity for Senate Republicans. It also further limits the ability of national Democrats to play offense when their resources will be spread out over such an expansive defensive map.”
That reflects a tough political reality for Democrats: Bingaman is the third Democratic senator to announce he won’t seek re-election next year, and it’s going to take a lot of hard work and money for Democrats to hold on to this seat.
Recent polling from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling indicated that Bingaman would have been in a strong position if he sought re-election – but that the race could be a toss-up if he did not.
Former Republican Gov. Gary Johnson was the strongest Republican in a race for an open seat, followed by Wilson and then Pearce. Johnson was viewed favorably by 44 percent of those surveyed, while Wilson was viewed favorably by 39 percent and Pearce was viewed favorably by 35 percent.
Public Policy Polling tested several potential contests. For example, its survey found Johnson leading Heinrich 44 percent to 43 percent, while Wilson trailed Heinrich 50 percent to 39 percent and Pearce trailed Heinrich 53 percent to 38 percent.
Johnson led Luján by an even greater margin – 45 percent to 40 percent – while Wilson trailed him 48 percent to 40 percent, and Pearce trailed him 49 percent to 37 percent.
Gonzales said the Democratic Party has “an incredibly strong bench of candidates to draw from, and the Democratic Party is going to work hard every day to ensure our nominee wins in November.”