Because of the entrance of U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., into the Senate race, another GOP oilman has decided against running.
Spiro G. Vassilopoulos, a political newcomer, informed state Republican Party Chair Allen Weh of his decision in an e-mail late Wednesday.
“Congressman Pearce entering the N.M. Senate race effectively is an end to what was (for me) an interesting peek into
“Thank you to one and all for the time that you devoted in hearing me out,” he wrote.
Vassilopoulos had considered for months the possibility of challenging Sen. Pete Domenici in a primary before news of the senator’s coming retirement broke earlier this month. Shortly after Domenici announced his retirement, Vassilopoulos told a GOP crowd in
“I will begin my campaign this coming January,” the Alamogordo Daily News quoted him as saying. “And I feel my only serious competition will be Stevan Pearce, if he decides to run for the position. Pearce is a fellow oilman and someone I consider to be intellectually honest. I have great admiration for his abilities.”
Vassilopoulos’ decision to stay out of the race leaves only Pearce and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson in the GOP primary. The Democrats who are running for Senate are Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez and political newcomers Don Wiviott, Jim Hannan and Leland Lehrman.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a Democrat, is also considering the race.