The race to be the Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., in 2008 has really heated up in the last few days. Following news that New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Rick Homans and Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich might both jump into the race, I was contacted by a third potential candidate on Tuesday.
Terry Brunner has been mentioned as a possible candidate in the past, but he wanted me to know he is meeting with officials from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today and also talking with veteran pollsters about the race.
Brunner is state director for the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and ran Bingaman’s re-election campaign last year.
“I’m still considering it,” Brunner told me, adding that his job has provided him the opportunity to work on many of the same issues he would handle as a congressman.
He’s 36 and has two young children, which puts him in a similar situation as that of the 35-year-old Heinrich – deciding whether he can give this race what it will take to win with a young family to consider.
With is experience, Brunner is well aware of what it will take. He also knows how to run a serious campaign.
Other potential candidates
Officials from the DCCC will likely meet with Homans and Heinrich while they’re here and, a source reports, Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg, who the source says isn’t that interested in the race.
Missing from the list of most-frequently mentioned candidates is any Hispanic Democrat, but former Albuquerque City Councilor Eric Griego is one whose name has been tossed around. If a number of Anglos get into the race, he might be able to squeak by them in a primary.
Also mentioned as a possible candidate is Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, but he was named chair of the powerful Judiciary Committee this year and might be hesitant to make a change so quickly.
A prior version of this posting had an incorrect quote attributed to Brunner.