Term limits prevent Gov. Bill Richardson from seeking a third term in 2010, but he may run again when he’s eligible four years later.
At least that’s what Richardson wrote today in an e-mail to supporters of his failed presidential campaign.
The e-mail solicited money to “keep New Mexico a blue state” and “get as many Democrats elected nationally as possible.” Though Richardson’s presidential campaign still has outstanding debt — more than $285,000 as of May 31 — he wrote in the e-mail that raising money to help elect Democrats “is much more important.”
Then he wrote about his own future.
“I still have a lot of work to do here in New Mexico before I leave office in 2010 due to term limits, including fighting to extend health care to every New Mexican. And I remain actively involved with national politics because we need to change America and every one of us has to contribute something,” Richardson wrote in the e-mail. “But who knows? Maybe I’ll even decide to run for governor again in 2014 — if something else doesn’t pop up in the meantime!”
Many pundits have speculated that “something else” might include vice president or secretary of state. Since ending his presidential campaign in January, Richardson has remained on the national stage with diplomatic and other trips overseas and by campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
But running for governor in 2014 is not a prospect for Richardson’s future that has been widely discussed. In response to an e-mail that asked, “Should we assume he’s kidding about running for governor again in 2014?” Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos replied, “I wouldn’t make any assumptions.”
Governors can serve two consecutive terms in New Mexico. Richardson was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006, but can’t run in 2010. After sitting out a term, he would be eligible to run again in 2014.
Term limits prevent Gov. Bill Richardson from seeking a third term in 2010, but he may run again when he’s eligible four years later.