U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce will announce Wednesday that he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by Pete Domenici, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting.
The newspaper reported that Pearce plans to make the announcement in an e-mail to friends and supporters. The report stated that Pearce wants to inform supporters informally and won’t make a formal announcement until sometime in the coming weeks.
He’ll have to face U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and newcomer Spiro G. Vassilopoulos in a GOP primary. The Democrats who are running for Senate are Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez and political newcomers Don Wiviott, Jim Hannan and Leland Lehrman.
The news opens up the race for Pearce’s House seat. Three Democrats are already running: Al Kissling, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague.
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Update, 1:20 p.m.
The Associated Press has also confirmed that Pearce will run for Senate.