Former state Rep. Terry Marquardt will announce today that he’s running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce.
Marquardt, 58 and a Republican, is the former state House minority leader and an optometrist in
I was unable to immediately reach Marquardt for comment, but Otero County GOP Chairwoman Sassy Tinling confirmed that Marquardt plans to officially enter the race today. In addition, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting that Marquardt confirmed his candidacy.
Marquardt had previously announced that he was considering running, and he took part in a forum for actual and potential GOP candidates for the congressional seat in December in
Marquardt is the seventh Republican to enter the race for his party’s nomination for the seat. The others are former Bernalillo County GOP Executive Director Bob Cornelius, rancher and retired banker Aubrey L. Dunn Jr., Sierra County GOP Chair C. Earl Greer, Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman, Las Cruces daycare center owner Greg Sowards and restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley.
The Democrats in the race are retired Presbyterian pastor Al Kissling, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley,
Update, 3:10 p.m.
In a speech he gave today in
“This is an important election because we have a Congress that is totally unresponsive to the people,” he said. “The Democrats and the Republicans alike are so consumed with party warfare that Congress is in gridlock and stalemate. Each side works harder to make the other side look bad than to represent working Americans and their families.”
“It will take strong leadership to overcome this caustic and vile environment in our nation’s capitol,” Marquardt said, according to prepared remarks released by his campaign. “And, unfortunately, the radical liberals who now control our Congress have not proven up to the task.”
In a news release announcing his candidacy, Marquardt talked about favoring “free-market” solutions to improving the health-care system instead of government intervention. He also called for a federal balanced-budget act, saying that would lead to “more pressure for real innovation, better outcomes at lower costs, greater productivity and a spirit of entrepreneurial public management.”
Marquardt also spoke about limited government, low taxes and low interest rates to spur economic growth, and he talked about the importance of education, which he said was his focus during six terms in the state House.
The former state representative highlighted the fact that he’s the only candidate for the Second Congressional District seat – Republican or Democrat – with legislative experience.
Marquardt has two adult sons. Todd is an attorney and Tyrone is a financial advisor. He has operated his medical vision practice in