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Stewart Udall, a former Secretary of the Interior, former U.S. Rep and father of current U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, endorsed Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M. for Congress today.
Luján is running for the seat which Tom Udall currently sits in. Udall is leaving the seat to run for Senate, and will face either Steve Pearce or Heather Wilson in November’s general election.
"I like him as a person," Stewart Udall told the Independent in a phone interview, "but I’m for him because of the strong position he’s taken on the issues that are important to me."
Luján welcomed the support of the elder Udall.
“It is an honor to have the support of Secretary Udall,” Luján said. “He displayed remarkable vision and leadership to create much of the legislation that protects our environment and our land today. He is a true visionary and progressive hero. In Congress, I will work every day to live up to the expectations that come with his endorsement.”
Lujan is competing against several other Democrats for the party’s nomination in the June 3 primary.
Stewart Udall wanted to make it clear he was only speaking for himself.<
"I’m very independent minded in my old age," Stewart Udall said, "Well, I’ve always been that way. When I decided to do it (endorse Luján), I told Tom that I was going to do it and he didn’t object." "But this is not an endorsement by Tom Udall, don’t confuse anybody."
Secretary Udall was elected to Congress in 1954 to represent Arizona. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed him to head the Department of the Interior, where Udall served until 1969.
Stewart Udall is still considered one of the most respected environmentalists in the nation for the work he did while Secretary of the Interior. It was partly because of environmental issues that Udall chose to endorse Luján.
"He’s been pushing for renewable energy," Udall said. "McCain even endorsed global warming, and Luján’s big on global warming. I think he’s the logical choice because of his record. There’s nothing personal in this."
When asked, Udall wouldn’t comment on whether he supported Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama for President.
