Heath Haussamen / NMPolitics.net
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez. (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, has decided not to run for governor next year, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
Sanchez has not announced that decision publicly or returned a call seeking comment.
His decision leaves Lt. Gov. Diane Denish as the only Democrat in the race and, unless another enters the race, allows her to save the approximately $2 million she has on hand and continue to build up her war chest while Republicans duke it out in a primary.
The Republican field is crowded. Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez and state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones have entered the race. Former state GOP chairman Allen Weh has formed an exploratory committee and is calling himself a “likely candidate.” Public relations professional Doug Turner appears to be about to formally jump into the race.
And former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., says she’s thinking about running.
Most Republicans had already been assuming Sanchez wouldn’t run and have been focusing their attacks on Denish.
Sanchez grabbed headlines in late May by posting on a note on his Facebook page stating that he “has formed an exploratory committee and is still contemplating a run for governor.” He didn’t include any details or comment further, and there’s been little public activity out of his apparent exploratory committee since.
Sanchez has been a state senator since 1993.