How many people will, ultimately, be running for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor next year?

According to state Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, two candidates who have already announced they are in the 2010 race, it will be a crowded field.

Steve Terrell wrote on his Twitter account that Jerry Ortiz y Pino predicted seven to nine candidates for the position:

From Santa Fe New Mexican political reporter Steve Terrell's Twitter account.

From Santa Fe New Mexican political reporter Steve Terrell's Twitter account.

Solano responded (via his own Twitter account, of course) a slightly smaller number; five to start and four after petition gathering begins in October:

Santa Fe County Sheriff and candidate for Lieutenant Governor predicting the number of candidates

Santa Fe County Sheriff and candidate for Lieutenant Governor predicting the number of candidates

Solano continued with another prediction:

I will stay until June and predict win.

And he finished off with:

@steveterrell In my humble opinion

There are already three in the race; in addition to Ortiz y Pino and Solano, state Sen. Linda Lopez also announced she is running for the position.

The current lieutenant governor is Diane Denish, who has announced she is running for governor in 2010.