Jeff Armijo announced this morning that he is dropping his fight to remain the Democratic Party’s candidate for state auditor.
State Rep. Hector Balderas of Wagon Mound will replace him on the ballot.
Joining Armijo at a news conference in Albuquerque were Democratic Party Chair John Wertheim and Speaker of the House Ben Lujan.
The deal was apparently brokered by Lujan.
“Out of my profound respect for Speaker Lujan, I have concluded that in the interest of my wonderful fellow New Mexicans that I will not seek the office of state auditor,” Armijo said at the news conference, according to the Albuquerque Tribune.
Armijo’s lawsuit against the secretary of state and the Democratic Party’s lawsuit against Armijo have both been dropped, said the party’s executive director, Matt Farrauto.
“Both lawsuits have been dropped, and Jeff has stepped aside,” he said.
Wertheim said at the news conference that this will allow the Democratic Party to move forward with its agenda.
“I think that this resolves the dispute,” he said.
The announcement came just before a hearing this morning in district court in Santa Fe on the Democratic Party’s lawsuit. The hearing has been cancelled.
I’m still trying to reach Armijo for comment. His attorney, Paul M. Kienzle, told me he doesn’t yet have any comment on what has happened.
Armijo announced that he would drop out of the race in late August because of allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward a campaign volunteer. Though he claims the allegations are false, Gov. Bill Richardson pressured him to drop out.
Armijo changed his mind before last week’s deadline to officially withdraw and announced he would not file the signed, notarized withdrawal letter that had typically been required by the secretary of state’s office. The governor’s office and Democratic Party argued that Armijo’s prior public statements and actions constituted a withdrawal, and the secretary of state took his name off the ballot, leading to the lawsuits.
Jeff Armijo announced this morning that he is dropping his fight to remain the Democratic Party’s candidate for state auditor. 
“Out of my profound respect for Speaker Lujan, I have concluded that in the interest of my wonderful fellow New Mexicans that I will not seek the office of state auditor,”