Lt. Gov. Diane Denish announced today that she raised a little more than $500,000 from April to June for her 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
Other candidates for statewide office haven’t released such numbers today. It’s not a required filing day. Denish, who is pushing for ethics reforms including increased frequency of required campaign finance reporting, voluntarily releases finance reports every three months. State law only requires it twice a year (the next report is due in October).
Read the 262-page report Denish released today by clicking here.
In short, she raised $512,374.67 during the quarter and has raised a little more than $2.2 million to date for the race. She had a total of 1,603 donations in the quarter, with 67 percent of them less than $100. Her largest contribution was $25,000 from Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters Labor Union.
Denish spent a little more than $239,000 during the period, and ended it with almost $1.9 million on hand.
“I am honored to have the support of so many hard working New Mexicans who have joined this campaign to build a brighter future for our state,” Denish said in a news release. “It’s so exciting to see how many people are responding to our vision of making sure New Mexico is a leader in the jobs of the 21st Century economy, with a real commitment to education and to every area of the state.”
Most view Denish as the likely Democratic nominee for governor next year. Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez says he’s formed an exploratory committee as he considers challenging Denish for the nomination, but he hasn’t been very active in the race.
The only declared Republican gubernatorial candidate is Albuquerque financial adviser and Army National Guard brigadier general Greg Zanetti, but Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez plans to enter the race on Friday. Former state GOP Chairman Allen Weh and state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, have formed exploratory committees.
Former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and Doug Turner, CEO of the Albuquerque-based public relations firm DW Turner, say they are seriously considering running for the GOP nomination.