State Sen. Grubesic won’t seek re-election in 2008

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State Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, announced today that he won’t seek re-election next year, the Santa Fe New Mexican is reporting. That leaves lawyer and Democrat Brian Egolf, who has already raised $85,000, as the frontrunner in the race for the District 25 seat. Democrat Mekah Gordon has also announced that she’s running. Grubesic told the newspaper his decision is based primarily on financial reasons. “Being in the Legislature has a significant impact on my ability to make a living and support my family,” he told the newspaper. Continue Reading

Wilson to announce Senate run at 4 p.m.

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U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., will announce at 4 p.m. today that she’s running for Senate. According to a news release from her office, she’ll make the announcement at Nativo Lodge, 6000 Pan American Freeway in Albuquerque. Though the release doesn’t say she’s running, it’s already well known as has been reported on this site. Read the latest from the Associated Press. Continue Reading

Guerra announces city council run

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Conrado M. Guerra has announced his candidacy for the District 1 seat on the Las Cruces City Council, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting. Guerra waited to make his announcement until after filing day for the Nov. 6 election. Though I asked, he has not provided the information to me, so here it is from the Sun-News: A resident of Las Cruces for 44 years, Guerra is 71, a retired insurance agent and a U.S. Army veteran. He’s focused on “decision making through common sense,” the newspaper reported. Continue Reading

Pearce says decision won’t be driven by poll numbers

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce says his belief on what’s right, not poll numbers, will drive his decision on whether to run in a Senate GOP primary against U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson. “I’m not sure what the math lays out, what the polls would say, but we’re very little driven by polls. We’re more driven by what’s the right thing in our heart, what do we feel we need to and must do,” Pearce said. “So it’s not like we’re going to go out and run polls and then do what the polls say. We’ll reflect and then decide what’s right for the state and what’s right for our office.” Pearce made the comments on Thursday to Jodi Breisler of Capitol News Connection, whose story you can listen to by clicking here. Continue Reading

State waits as Pearce considers Senate race

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has made no public comment to this point on whether he will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, but he’s also said little to most GOP insiders, leading to rampant speculation. According to the Albuquerque Journal, Pearce has been silent because he hasn’t yet decided what to do. U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., is announcing at 4 p.m. today that she’ll run for the seat, but Land Commissioner Pat Lyons is trying to talk with Pearce before he decides whether to take his chances in a Republican primary. It’s no secret that Pearce is seriously considering running. When I reached his campaign finance director, Andrea Goff, on her cell phone earlier today, she was with Pearce Chief of Staff Bob Carter. Continue Reading

Rep. Park considering run for Congress

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State Rep. Al Park is seriously considering running against his friend, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, in the First Congressional District Democratic primary next year. Park and Heinrich are friends and often work in the same political circles. But Park, D-Albuquerque, said he sees the open seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, who will announce today that she’s running for Senate, as a “political opportunity of a lifetime.” Park said he hopes to make a decision in the next couple of weeks. “I’m actively considering my options,” he said. “If this is another way I can serve the people of New Mexico, I feel obliged to consider it.” As chair of the powerful state House Judiciary Committee, Park is an influential member of a group of House Democrats who often work with Republicans to find compromise on issues and bypass the will of Speaker Ben Lujan. Continue Reading

Udall won’t run for Senate

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., will not run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici. Udall informed close supporters of his decision Thursday evening and released a statement this morning making it official. He said his new seat on the powerful appropriations committee was a factor in his decision. “The election to replace Domenici in 2008 will be a tough one, but I have every reason to believe I could win it,” Udall said. “I also believe, however, that as I continue to gain in seniority in the House, assume more of a leadership role, assert my authority on the appropriations committee and pass significant legislation like my bill to promote renewable energy, I am in the right place to serve New Mexico and the country.” As a member of the House, Udall said, he has “consistently stood up against the war in Iraq, against infringements on our constitutional rights and against favors for the special interests.” “I believe the House of Representatives, the ‘people’s house,’ can fix the mess the administration has gotten us into,” Udall said. Continue Reading

Udall will announce 2008 plans on Friday

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., will announce Friday morning whether he will run for Senate next year, his spokesman confirmed. If he enters the race, Udall would be the first top-tier Democrat to do so, and the move would likely be aimed at deterring others from getting in. At the end of June, Udall already had more than $700,000 on hand for a 2008 House run, money that can easily be transferred to a Senate race. On the other hand, Udall recently secured a coveted seat on the House Appropriations Committee, and he might be hesitant to give that up for what could be a hotly contested primary that might end his political career. High-ranking Democrats, including Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, have been encouraging Udall for months to consider the Senate race, but they’ve been pushing harder to get Gov. Bill Richardson to abandon his presidential campaign and enter the Senate race. Continue Reading

Domenici reveals disease, announces retirement

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s announcement this afternoon that he would not seek a seventh term was a formality, but it was also a time of celebration of a man who has devoted 35 years of his life to working for New Mexicans in the nation’s capital. The room at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Albuquerque was full and the applause was loud. Domenici was soft-spoken – a common trait in recent years – as he announced his plans, explained his disease and talked about his career – both what has happened and the 15 months that remain. “We’re going to do our best with those 15 months to do something spectacular,” Domenici said. Continue Reading

Bingaman expects Domenici to finish term effectively

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In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman praised his colleague Pete Domenici, and in a later interview he said he has seen nothing that might indicate New Mexico’s senior senator isn’t able to continuing serving until his planned retirement at the end of 2008. Domenici is announcing his retirement today because he has frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which can lead to frontotemporal dementia and affect parts of the brain important for organization, decision-making and mood and behavior control. “Senator Domenici called me yesterday afternoon to tell me of his decision,” Bingaman said today during the speech. “My reaction was one of surprise, which gave way to admiration and appreciation for this man’s decision to conclude his distinguished career of public service on his own terms.” Bingaman said when he arrived in the Senate in 1983 that Domenici was “here to welcome me,” and said the senator has “earned a reputation as a fierce and effective champion for New Mexico.” “Today, and during his entire Senate career, Pete has achieved what all of us try to achieve – that is to be effective in getting results in Washington while also staying close to the people who have sent us here to represent them,” Bingaman said. “He has assured me that he expects the remaining fifteen months of his service to be productive. Continue Reading

Udall ‘seriously considering’ Senate run

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is seriously considering running for the Senate seat that will be vacated by Pete Domenici next year. “Congressman Udall is seriously considering it and, as always, will make a decision based on how best he can serve New Mexico,” spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said. Read my analysis of Udall’s situation by clicking here. Continue Reading

Dems attack Bush, Pearce for kid’s insurance veto

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Sensing an opportunity, Democrats unleashed a barrage of harsh criticism on Wednesday against President Bush and those, including U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., who supported his veto of a bill that would have expanded children’s health insurance. “Steve Pearce doesn’t get it. As a member of Congress, he can get the best health insurance money can buy, paid for by our tax dollars,” Bill McCamley, who is running against Pearce next year, said in a news release. “But apparently he doesn’t think 11,000 New Mexico kids deserve any. This is what’s wrong with Washington, and this is what I will fight to change when I get there.” The criticism is driven by more than politics. Continue Reading

Report: Wilson to run for Domenici’s Senate seat

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U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici next year, The Hill is reporting. Assuming the report is accurate, Wilson is the first candidate the public has learned will run, other than the three lesser-known Democrats who jumped into the race long before news of Domenici’s coming retirement broke on Wednesday. A number of Democrats and Republicans from around the state are considering getting into the race. The Hill cited “a source familiar with Wilson’s decision” in its report. Wilson’s spokesman told me he had no comment. Continue Reading

Hannan may consider leaving U.S. Senate race

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Jim Hannan, one of three Democrats who had already entered the 2008 U.S. Senate race before news broke Thursday of Pete Domenici’s coming retirement, may be having second thoughts about running. “I welcome the news that Senator Domenici has decided to retire,” Hannan wrote in an e-mail to me. “I truly believe that it is time for new vision, new leadership in that position. It is my fervent wish that a Democrat like Tom Udall decides to run for the United States Senate.” Hannan, of Santa Fe, provided no further comment to me on whether he would drop out of the race if Udall were to enter it, but had this to say to the Albuquerque Tribune: “Obviously, if it’s Tom Udall or somebody with great credentials coming into the race, I would immediately withdraw,” he said. “I’d love to see Tom or someone like that jump in.” Hannan once worked for the late U.S. Rep. Mo Udall, D-Ariz. Continue Reading