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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce will win the GOP primary in the U.S. Senate race. Out of 260 voters, 154, or 59 percent, said Pearce will win, while 106, or 41 percent, said U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson will win. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading
The chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., confirmed today that the congressman will run for the Senate seat being vacated next year by Pete Domenici. Meanwhile, Democrats Don Wiviott and Jim Hannan will drop out of the Senate race as a result of Udall’s decision. Wiviott plans to run for the House seat Udall will be vacating. The confirmation of Udall’s candidacy comes a day after I reported that Udall had told a number of Democratic insiders he’s running for Senate. “He’s definitely running,” Tom Nagle, Udall’s chief of staff, told the Associated Press today. Continue Reading
With 54 days until the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 3, Gov. Bill Richardson is putting everything he has into Iowa and New Hampshire as he makes a final push in his underdog bid for the presidency. Earlier this week, Richardson moved 10 staffers from Nevada to Iowa, weakening his organization in a state he once called critical. Richardson also moved some staffers from New Hampshire to Iowa, but replaced them with staffers from the campaign headquarters in Santa Fe. Overall, that increased the number of staffers in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Continue Reading
Ken Miyagishima officially holds the title of Las Cruces mayor after he and the other candidates who won Tuesday’s municipal election were sworn in today. However, Miyagishima and the others won’t officially take office until Nov. 19, when a ceremonial swearing-in is planned. Today’s ceremony was not previously announced to the public. The city’s municipal code requires that candidates be sworn in within 14 days of the results becoming official, which happened on Thursday, but state law requires that they be sworn in within six days. Continue Reading
Former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague raised at least $175,000 on Thursday evening for his campaign to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. Teague made the formal announcement of his candidacy on Thursday in Hobbs, and the event doubled as the fundraiser. His campaign released the fundraising total this afternoon, but it expects more money to come in as a result of the fundraiser. Teague said, in a statement released by his campaign, that he is “humbled and overwhelmed by the incredible support I have received at my first fundraiser. Clearly, there is a desire for change in (Congressional District) 2, and I am the candidate who can bring that change to Washington.” Teague is in a crowded Democratic primary that also includes state Rep. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, Al Kissling of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley and Roswell businessman Frank McKinnon. On the Republican side, only GOP restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley has formally entered the race, but former Bernalillo County GOP Executive Director Bob Cornelius has formed an exploratory committee “with the intent to run.” Sierra County Republican Party Chair C. Earl Greer and Aubrey L. Dunn Jr. are expected to make final decisions soon, and others are also considering the race. Continue Reading
U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., has decided that he will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici next year. Udall has called a number of Democratic Party insiders this week, including at least some county party chairs, to inform them of his decision, reliable sources confirmed. A Udall spokesperson could not be reached for comment. The sources didn’t know when Udall plans to publicly announce his candidacy. Udall said at Saturday’s meeting of the Democratic Party’s state central committee that he would announce his decision within two weeks. Continue Reading
No charges will be filed against Mesilla Mayor Michael Cadena as a result of a Friday-evening outing to the Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino in an unmarked police vehicle in October. The vehicle Cadena drove to the casino is a seized vehicle that federal regulations state can’t be used for any purpose that’s not law-enforcement related. The vehicle’s siren blared when he pulled up to the casino before he drove around other vehicles to the front of the valet-parking line. And when police found Cadena in the facility 45 minutes after he arrived, he failed field sobriety tests and they refused to let him drive the vehicle home. District Attorney Susana Martinez said on Thursday, at the completion of her office’s investigation, that no charges will be filed. Continue Reading
Just two days after announcing that he would run for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce, state Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, is dropping out of the race because a ruptured disc in his back requires immediate surgery. Campos said he has been aware of the problem in his back for some time and knew he would need surgery eventually, but he hoped to delay it at least a year with exercise and other natural treatment. Campos had an MRI on Monday to ensure he could delay the surgery, and it revealed the ruptured disc, he said. His doctor has scheduled him for surgery on Wednesday that will keep him off his feet until just before the state Legislature convenes in mid-January. He said he plans to be ready for the session. Continue Reading
By Carter Bundy Anyone with the good fortune of traveling to or studying other countries has had the dark, strange, but satisfying experience of learning that people everywhere, regardless of system of government, believe that their politicians are corrupt and do the bidding of more powerful people. It’s satisfying because there’s something comforting in knowing that we’re not alone. It’s dark, though, because government should, and can, represent the best of what we want. After all, we get to decide who goes to Santa Fe or Washington. The sentiment is also strange because those who do the voting complain about the results. Continue Reading
Michael Swickard’s column No Thought Left Behind won’t run today, but will return next Friday. Continue Reading
State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, is informing close friends and supporters tonight in an e-mail that he is running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce. Cervantes plans to make his formal announcement at a party that will be held Monday evening in Las Cruces. Cervantes joins state Rep. Jose Campos of Santa Rosa, Al Kissling of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, Roswell businessman Frank McKinnon and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, only GOP restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley has formally entered the race, but former Bernalillo County GOP Executive Director Bob Cornelius has formed an exploratory committee “with the intent to run.” Sierra County Republican Party Chair C. Earl Greer and Aubrey L. Dunn Jr. are expected to make final decisions soon, and others are also considering the race. Cervantes will be joined at Monday’s party by a number of high-profile Democrats, and will be endorsed by House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, state Reps. Continue Reading
Mayor Bill Mattiace announced this evening that he will challenge the results of Tuesday’s Las Cruces municipal election, which had him narrowly losing to District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima, and that he will sue a number of people for defamation related to election campaigning. Meanwhile, the city council voted at this evening’s meeting to certify the election results. That included adding to the previously released totals another six ballots that were all cast for Miyagishima and increased his margin of victory to 80 votes out of 11,424. He finished with 5,751 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,671 votes, or 49.7 percent. The six ballots that were added to the count came from people who requested absentee ballots but later signed sworn statements that they never received them. Continue Reading
In the midst of other candidates entering or considering entering the federal races, Democrats Martin Chávez, Bill McCamley and Martin Heinrich are announcing new endorsements and reminding people about previously announced backers of their campaigns. Chávez, facing a likely U.S. Senate primary against Democratic Rep. Tom Udall, announced on Wednesday the endorsements of state Treasurer James Lewis and former Govs. Jerry Apodaca and Toney Anaya. McCamley, a Second Congressional District candidate who has been running since April but has seen three high-profile Democrats enter the race in the last month, announced today the endorsements of Doña Ana County Commissioner Dolores Saldaña-Caviness, Eddy County Commissioner Tony Hernandez and Carlsbad City Councilmen Manny Anaya and Jeff Diamond. Heinrich, a First Congressional District candidate who is facing three other Democrats in a primary, announced today the endorsement of the Pueblo of Zia, the first pueblo to endorse any candidate in the race. Continue Reading
State Sen. Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque, announced today that he has formed an exploratory committee as he considers whether to run for the First Congressional District seat being vacated by Heather Wilson. “As a state senator I have dedicated my life to improving the quality of life of every New Mexican. Now, I believe I can make a real difference in the life of every citizen of our great country and am considering running for the United States House of Representatives,” Carraro said. He said his committee includes friends, supporters and business leaders, and he plans to do polling and “evaluate financial, volunteer and consultant commitments to ensure a successful run for this important congressional race.” At this point, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is the only Republican who has entered the race, but state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, has also formed an exploratory committee. On the Democratic side, attorney Jon Adams, teacher Jason Call, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham are running for the House seat. Continue Reading
Lawrence Joy, a well-known Las Crucen who has twice run unsuccessfully for state representative, said he is “strongly considering” running for the District 6 seat on the Las Cruces City Council when a special election is held in January. The seat will become vacant on Nov. 19 when Ken Miyagishima is sworn in as the city’s new mayor. The clerk hasn’t set a date for the special election – preparations will begin after the completion of the canvass of Tuesday’s election later today – but it will be held sometime in January. “When running for state representative I campaigned on bringing the legislative process back to the voters to include the community on all decisions. Continue Reading