Carraro to challenge White in U.S. House primary

State Sen. Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque, will formally announce Thursday that he is running for the First Congressional District seat being vacated by Heather Wilson.

He informed supporters in an e-mail sent Monday evening that he will run, and that he will make the announcement at 4 p.m. Thursday at George O. Breace VFW Post 401 in Albuquerque.

Carraro’s decision comes despite significant pressure from Washington GOP insiders to clear the way for Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White to become the party’s nominee for the seat. House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio has sent White a $5,000 contribution – the maximum allowed – from his political action committee, The Freedom Project, to be used specifically in the primary.

And the retiring U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici plans to host an event for White in Washington next week.

All that is certain to make it more difficult for Carraro to raise money, but he doesn’t appear to be deterred.

“Hopefully (Domenici) is going to have one for me after I announce,” Carraro told the Rio Rancho-based Sandoval County Online Reporting Enterprise.

On the GOP side, state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, is also considering running. On the Democratic side, attorney Jon Adams, teacher Jason Call, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham are running for the House seat.

Update, 11:05 a.m.

Carraro said he plans to give up his seat in the state Senate to run for Congress, and he’s in the race to win.

“White has state party apparatus behind him, but once people understand that he has no substance – policy experience and knowledge of issues – I believe that business interests from throughout the state will join with my effort to make sure that we have someone running for Congress that knows what they’re doing – no disrespect,” Carraro said. “Oil and gas, economic development and defense interests need to understand future implications for our state and contribute to my campaign. My job is to show them that I can get job done.”

Carraro said he expects “a tough race with lots of dirty campaigning – that was indicated by intimidation brought to all candidates thinking about running against Darren White.”

“In the end, I believe experience and knowledge of issues will prevail, and I will win the primary and then win the general,” Carraro said.

A paragraph in the original posting has been removed because Carraro’s comments made it irrelevant.