Nine congressional candidates who failed to secure 20 percent of the vote at preprimary nominating conventions 10 days ago filed signatures today to try to stay in the races.
Only three candidates who failed to received 20 percent – Second Congressional District candidates Terry Marquardt, a Republican, and Democrats Al Kissling and Frank McKinnon – aren’t trying to stay in the races.
James Flores, spokesman for the Secretary of State’s Office, said the office doesn’t have to certify the signatures that were submitted today until Tuesday, but here are the candidates who filed signatures to try to stay in the races:
• In the Second Congressional District, Republicans Monty Newman and Greg Sowards.
• In the First Congressional District, Democrats Robert Pidcock and Rebecca Vigil-Giron and Republican Joe Carraro.
• In the Third Congressional District, Democrats Jon Adams, Rudy Martin, Harry Montoya and Benny Shendo Jr.
For my list of the 2008 candidates for federal offices, click here.
Update, 5:45 p.m.
Montoya just put out a news release announcing that he’s staying on the ballot. It states that he submitted more than 3,000 signatures today – far more than he needed.
“I really want to thank all my volunteers and supporters who spent countless hours helping me collect signatures to qualify for the ballot,” he said in the release. “It truly is an honor to have such a wonderful and dedicated group of people behind me.”
Montoya said he was required to submit just over 1,500 signatures, but wanted to ensure there was no question that he would be on the ballot.
“I am in this race because there is so much at stake,” Montoya said. “… We have monumental choices to make in our country this year. We need to ensure that we elect candidates who will fight to strengthen our economy, end the war and make sure that each and every American has access to universal health care.”