The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Peter St. Cyr)
Pete Domenici Jr. — the 50- year-old son of retired U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici — is seriously considering running for governor, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting.
Domenici, who like his father is a Republican, has been “contemplating a run since before the holiday season,” the Journal article states.
“I’m looking very seriously at it,” the Journal quoted him as saying. “I’m going to make my decision in a few days.”
Domenici, an environmental and natural resources lawyer in Albuquerque, would become the fifth Republican in the 2010 race. He has not run for office before and, according to the Journal, has not formed a campaign exploratory committee or rasied any money for the possible race.
Pete Domenici Jr.
The other Republicans in the race are Albuquerque business owners Allen Weh and Doug Turner, state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones of Albuquerque and Doña Ana CountyDistrict Attorney Susana Martinez.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a Democrat, is running unopposed — at least at this point — in her party’s primary.
Update, 7:45 p.m.
Scott Forrester, executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, issued this statement:
“For Democrats, there is no question – we’re united behind Diane Denish because she is out there fighting for New Mexican families, helping small businesses create jobs and taking on the special interests. Given that the current Republican candidates for governor haven’t given New Mexicans a reason to be excited or inspired, it’s not surprising to hear that party bosses are scrambling for alternatives.
“Political insiders may enjoy these games of ‘guess who’, but the people of New Mexico deserve a governor who is unquestionably ready to lead, and that’s Diane Denish.”