Heather Wilson, left, and Martin Heinrich
Martin Heinrich and Heather Wilson are neck and neck in fundraising, and outside groups are spending lots of money on the race. Polls have consistently given Heinrich a slight lead.
Republican Heather Wilson outraised Democrat Martin Heinrich in the U.S. Senate race’s last fundraising period, but Heinrich had more cash on hand on June 30 than Wilson.
Heinrich reported raising just over $1.4 million in the quarter that ended June 30. He ended the period with more than $1.7 million on hand.
Wilson reported raising a little more than $1.6 million in the quarter that ended June 30. She ended it with more than $1.6 million on hand.
Both faced competitive primaries, but Heinrich’s was more hotly contested. He defeated Hector Balderas 59 percent to 41 percent. Wilson defeated Greg Sowards 70 percent to 30 percent.
The bottom line: The candidates are neck and neck in fundraising, and outside groups have already been spending lots of money on the race. Polls, including two that made headlines last week, have consistently given Heinrich a slight lead.
Additional fundraising details
The Senate nominees’ most recent fundraising reports aren’t yet online, but Heinrich said his quarter included donations from 5,629 people, and 80 percent were for under $100. Wilson didn’t release additional details for the quarter but said to date in the campaign she had 6,916 individual donations. She said 71 percent were for $100 or less, and 77 percent – almost 5,300 – were from New Mexico.
To date, Wilson has raised just over $4 million for her Senate campaign. Heinrich has raised just under $3.9 million.
“Nearly 5,300 New Mexicans have contributed to my Senate campaign,” Wilson said in a news release. “I’m very grateful for this outpouring of support from so many people who know that Congressman Heinrich’s extreme agenda is making it harder for New Mexico small businesses to create jobs.”
Heinrich said he’s “grateful to receive the backing of so many New Mexicans from every corner of the state.”
“Moving our country forward requires fresh ideas and hard work,” He said. “I’ve covered thousands of miles traveling the state meeting with voters. Together, we are building the largest grassroots campaign New Mexico has ever seen.”
Debates coming up in October
Meanwhile, both candidates announced this weekend that they’ve agreed to three debates in Albuquerque in October. A fourth debate in Las Cruces is a possibility.
Here are the three that have been agreed upon:
- KRQE-TV will host a debate Oct. 11 from 6-7 p.m.
- KOAT-TV will host a debate Oct. 21 from 6-7 p.m.
- KOB-TV will host a debate Oct. 25 from 7-8 p.m.
Heinrich also announced that he had accepted an invitation to a debate in Las Cruces sponsored by the Las Cruces Sun-News and KFOX-TV. In a news release, Wilson spokesman Christopher Sanchez said no date or format for such a debate has been proposed, but if it fits into Wilson’s schedule and the format is similar to the other debates already agreed upon, “Heather will accept.”
Sanchez also said Wilson will “continue to agree to additional debates and forums from all parts of the state as invitations come in.”