Adams moves so he can switch congressional races

Attorney Jon Adams is pulling out of the race to replace Heather Wilson in Congress, moving to Santa Fe and jumping into the race to replace Tom Udall in Congress.

The Democrat confirmed today that he is renting an apartment in Santa Fe and is now running for the Third Congressional District seat. The reason Adams switched races is former Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, the frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the First Congressional District.

“I made the decision because Heinrich has significant support on (the party’s state central committee) for the Albuquerque seat, while I have significant support in CD3 – my home, where I grew up, and where I fully understand all the issues,” Adams said. “As someone who first got into politics 10 years ago to help Tom Udall and as a dedicated Udall Democrat, that district is a better fit.”

Adams, a former assistant attorney general, worked for Udall campaigns in 1998 and 2000 and also worked for Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000. In 2002, he was the policy director for Richard Romero’s campaign, and in 2004 he worked as an attorney for the state Democratic Party.

Adams joins Public Regulation Commission Chairman Ben R. Luján, Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry B. Montoya, state Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo Jr. and Santa Fe green builder Don Wiviott in the race for the Democratic Party’s nomination for the congressional seat. One Republican – Marco E. Gonzales, an attorney who spent 10 years working for U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici as a defense appropriations specialist – is running. At least three other Democrats and Republicans are considering running.

Adams’ exit from the First Congressional District race leaves teacher Jason Call, Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham vying for the Democratic Party’s nomination. The Republicans running for the congressional seat are state Sen. Joe Carraro and Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White.