Former state representative and Republican gubernatorial nominee John Sanchez is jumping into the race for lieutenant governor.
Sanchez, 46, announced his decision to enter the race Thursday in Albuquerque.
“I have been encouraged by many friends and supporters to run for governor, but I am determined to avoid a potentially divisive Republican primary race. Running for and winning the office of lieutenant governor will allow me to maintain the essential balance of my commitments to my family, our business and employees, and to public service in New Mexico,” Sanchez said in a news release.
“I believe that my business and political experience will strengthen the Republican ticket in 2010, and that I will bring energy and enthusiasm to the election process, and that, once elected, that I will be effective in a vital role of new leadership for New Mexico,” he said in the release.
In 2000, Sanchez was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, defeating 30-year incumbent and Speaker of the House Raymond G. Sanchez. After one term he won the Republican gubernatorial nomination but, in 2002, he lost to Bill Richardson.
Four other Republicans candidates have announced their candidacies for lieutenant governor — state Sen. Kent Cravens, former state Rep. Brian Moore, 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate J.R. Damaron and Albuquerque nurse Bea Sheridan.
Six Democrats — former Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian Colón, State Rep. Joe Campos of Santa Rosa, former Mid-Region Council of Governments Executive Director Lawrence Rael, state Sens. Linda Lopez and Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, and Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano — have also launched campaigns for lieutenant governor.