U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich
Democrat Martin Heinrich had the most cash on hand of any declared U.S. Senate candidate at the end of the first fundraising quarter of the 2012 election cycle.
Finance reports for the quarter beginning Jan. 1 and ending March 31 were due Friday, and Heinrich’s was impressive. He raised $350,616, including $236,998 from individuals, according to his report.
Heinrich spent $55,256 and ended the reporting period with $349,833 on hand.
Heinrich was technically raising money for his U.S. House re-election campaign during the first quarter, but because both are federal races he was able to transfer the money to his Senate campaign, which he formally launched on April 2.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson isn’t far behind Heinrich, and her fundraising is especially impressive considering that she’s not currently a member of Congress. Wilson announced last week that she raised $303,394 during the reporting period and ended it with $281,965.80 on hand.
U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Wilson’s fundraising is also impressive considering that she didn’t enter the race until March 7 and raised her money in less than a third of the fundraising period.
Though it’s early and other heavy hitters could enter the race, the fundraising by Heinrich and Wilson establishes them as the frontrunners, at least at this point, for their party’s nominations.
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., who has said he’s also considering running for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Jeff Bingaman, doesn’t appear to be ramping up his fundraising in preparation for a primary battle with Wilson. His House finance report indicates that he raised $147,380 during the first quarter, spent $32,235 and ended the period with $148,519 on hand.
And U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., who sources said was considering running for Senate shortly after Bingaman announced his retirement in February, also doesn’t appear to be preparing for a Senate run. According to his report, he raised $108,527 during the first quarter, spent $41,697 and ended the reporting period with $122,639 on hand.