John Sanchez
During a Thursday visit to Washington, D.C., Lt. Gov. John Sanchez sounded very much like a candidate for U.S. Senate.
In fact, in an interview with The Hill, he called Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson a “moderate-type” leader as he sought to portray himself as the conservative alternative.
“I think Heather served honorably,” The Hill quoted Sanchez as saying about the former congresswoman. “But if we consider the choices that were made by former establishment candidates, I think it’s clear the choices will be very easy for the people of New Mexico.”
“Do they want a return back to the days of moderate-type leaders (whose) conservative compasses (weren’t) pointed in the right direction?” he asked. “Or are they looking for somebody who doesn’t have to reinvent himself? I think the choice for U.S. Senate is abundantly clear.”
Sanchez is considered by many to be the toughest potential GOP primary challenger to Wilson if U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce stays out of the race. Sanchez, who was in Washington for a meeting of the National Lieutenant Governor’s Association, was quoted by The Hill as saying he will make a decision on whether to run for Senate “in the spring.”
In an interview with the Washington Post, Sanchez was quoted as saying he is “very close” to entering the race.
My analysis
The Washington Post reporter talked with me about the race and included my analysis in his article:
“New Mexico political analyst Heath Haussamen said there is indeed an opening for Sanchez. ‘There are Republicans in New Mexico who don’t believe Wilson is conservative enough to be their party’s nominee for U.S. Senate, and they’re actively seeking an alternative,’ Haussamen said.
“Haussamen added that Sanchez, who can self-fund to a limited extent, needs to prove that he can raise the amount of money for a tough open Senate race. He also said some Republicans are wary of nominating someone who is too conservative after the shellacking Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) took in an open-seat race in 2008. (Pearce narrowly edged Wilson in that race.)
“But Haussamen said the race still revolves around Wilson, who has been securing support from some of those who backed Pearce three years ago.
“‘If this comes down to being a race between two credible candidates, the anti-Wilson candidate has a shot,’ he said. ‘If not, Wilson has a huge advantage.’”