SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Five Democrats have officially entered the race to unseat Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, Santa Fe businessman Alan Weber, longtime government worker Lawrence Rael of Albuquerque and state Sens. Howie Morales of Silver City and Linda Lopez of Albuquerque Tuesday turned in the petitions and paperwork required to qualify for the Democratic Party’s June primary ballot.
No one has filed to run against Martinez in the GOP primary.
But a lively Republican primary could be shaping up for U.S. Senate. Former New Mexico GOP Chairman Allen Weh and former Dona Ana County Republican Party Chairman David Clements are vying for the nomination to run against Democrat Tom Udall. It’s Udall’s first bid for re-election since winning the seat six years ago after the retirement of longtime Republican Sen. Pete Domenici.
State Auditor Hector Balderas was the only Democrat seeking to replace King as attorney general. Susan Riedel, a former deputy to Martinez when she was district attorney in Las Cruces, and Albuquerque lawyer James Baiamonte filed for the GOP ballot.
Two Albuquerque Democrats, Debra Haaland and Marie Julienne, are seeking the nomination to run against Lt. Gov. John Sanchez.
In Albuquerque’s 1st Congressional District, two Republicans are vying to run against Democratic Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham — Richard Priem and Michael Frese.
In southern New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, Leslie Endean-Singh of La Luz and Carlsbad attorney Roxanne “Rocky” Lara filed for the Democratic nomination to run against incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Pearce.
One Democrat, Albuquerque Assistant District Attorney Robert Blanch, and a Republican rancher, Jefferson Byrd of Tucumcari, have set their sights on the 3rd Congressional District seat held by Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Lujan.
In other statewide offices, Capitan Republican attorney Aubrey Dunn filed to run against Democratic Land Commissioner Ray Powell; Albuquerque Democratic Sen. Tim Keller and Republican Robert Aragon are running for state auditor; and Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver is running as a Democrat for secretary of state against Republican incumbent Dianna Duran.
Three Democrats have filed to run for state treasurer: Tim Eichenberg, Patrick Padilla and John Wertheim. Rick Lopez of Santa Fe was the only Republican candidate.
For the Court of Appeals, Miles Hanisee of Albuquerque was unopposed for the Republican nomination, and Kerry Kiernan of Albuquerque was the only Democrat.
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