Former State Rep. Jeff Steinborn, left, and Rep. Antonio Lujan
With Las Cruces-region redistricting likely finalized, some 38 percent of the area Steinborn used to represent is now in District 35, while redistricting kept 25 percent of the area Lujan has been representing in the district.
Former State Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, announced today that he’s running for the seat currently held by a one-time Democratic House colleague, Antonio Lujan, who announced his own re-election plans last week.
Steinborn’s attempt to unseat Lujan in this year’s Democratic primary is certain to upset some party insiders. The race will likely be one of the most hotly contested legislative primaries in the state.
Steinborn used to represent District 37 on the northeastern edge of Las Cruces, but he lost the seat in 2010. This year’s redistricting appears to be moving him into Lujan’s inner-city District 35. Though redistricting is still up in the air, the maps currently being considered affect the Las Cruces area the same way, so most think the district boundaries in this area are set.
Steinborn said in a news release that 38 percent of the district he once represented is now in District 35, while redistricting kept only 25 percent of the area Lujan has been representing in the district. His news release didn’t mention Lujan and, in an interview, Steinborn said he wasn’t sure if Lujan was seeking re-election.
“I’m running for the state of New Mexico, and not against Antonio,” Steinborn said. “I think anytime voters have multiple choices, good for them.”
But Lujan announced his re-election campaign last week, saying he was committed to the race regardless of how redistricting turned out. In an interview today, Lujan said he has no hard feelings against Steinborn, who informed him during the recent legislative session that he might run.
“I just told him, Jeff, if you want to run, feel free to do so. It’s nothing personal,” Lujan said. “I don’t have any problems with opposition, and we’ll see who the people choose.”
He said he asked Steinborn to commit to a positive campaign.
“He didn’t commit to it, but if it doesn’t stay positive then there’s going to be some blood on the ground,” Lujan said. “I don’t want to go that route. I’ve never run a negative campaign. I know how to do them, but that’s not my preference or my style.”
The Steinborn file
Steinborn, who first won election in 2006 by unseating longtime House Republican Ed Boykin, was defeated by Republican Terry McMillan during the conservative wave of 2010 by fewer than 400 votes, 51 percent to 49 percent. In spite of that, Steinborn has a reputation as a hard-working campaigner who knows how to reach voters.
Steinborn has had the support of conservation and other groups in the past and raised more money than most legislative candidates for his campaigns. He said he doesn’t expect as much support this time.
“There are a lot of groups that will support an incumbent simply because that’s their policy, and I fully expect that some of the groups that used to support me, at least in name, will support an incumbent,” Steinborn said. “And that’s just their policy; it’s nothing personal.”
He said he expects the Democratic Party to remain neutral because it’s “not allowed to pick sides.”
Steinborn said he’s glad to be returning “back to my roots of being just a passionate citizen, a non-incumbent running for office,” which he said is “not an unfamiliar position to me.”
Steinborn added that he’s “excited for this challenge.” He said he felt like he made a difference in the N.M. House, particularly with legislation to require webcasting of committee meetings and his work on veterans’ issues. In his news release he also mentioned his work to enact campaign contribution limits and implement reform at the State Land Office.
The Lujan file
Lujan, meanwhile, has represented a relatively safe Democratic district since 2003. Between the serious primary challenge and the new makeup of the district – 75 percent of what’s likely to be the district is new to him – Lujan knows he has his work cut out for him between now and June 5.
“I’ll just have to wear out some leather and hit the streets,” he said. “I’ve always done grassroots. I don’t do much media or anything. I do mailers and door-to-door, and try to knock on every door. That’s the type of campaign I run.”
In an interview with the Las Cruces Sun-News, Lujan expressed frustration about the Legislature’s focus on driver’s licenses instead of the economy and said he wants another term to help shift the attention to the more important issue.
The Sun-News noted that Lujan has also tried for years, without success, to pass legislation to implement a statewide ban on texting and cell-phone use while driving. He’s also pushed, without success, to pass legislation that would provide worker’s compensation to agricultural and ranch workers.