State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, said late Thursday that she’s decided to form an exploratory committee as she considers running for governor next year.
Arnold-Jones wrote in an e-mail that it will take about a week to “pull the details together” for a formal announcement. She made no further comments in the e-mail.
Arnold-Jones said in May that she was considering whether to run for governor, Congress or re-election to her legislative seat next year. At the time, she sounded most excited about the possibility of running for governor, saying she is “interested in making sure that the system and the entities of state government serve people.”
Arnold-Jones considered running for Congress last year but ultimately opted to seek re-election to her state House seat after she failed to raise as much money for a potential congressional run as she thought she needed to be successful.
Arnold-Jones’ stature increased earlier this year when she led the charge to bring webcasting to the state Legislature, which many said helped create a climate ripe for the approval of other ethics reforms. For her work on webcasting, the Santa Fe Reporter nicknamed her “Lady Sunlight.”
Arnold-Jones has also been instrumental in the successful push for reform of the state’s scandal-plagued housing authority system.
Two other Republicans are already campaigning for governor. Albuquerque financial adviser and Army National Guard brigadier general Greg Zanetti has formally announced his candidacy, and former state GOP chairman and Albuquerque businessman Allen Weh has formed an exploratory committee. Former GOP U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson are also considering running.
On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish is the only declared candidate. Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez has formed an exploratory committee.