I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Former state Democratic party chairman Brian Colón will be Diane Denish’s running mate. Colón won the primary with a 4.2-point lead over Lawrence Rael; he also led Jose Campos of Santa Rosa, Gerry Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque and Linda Lopez of Albuquerque.
As of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s office said Colón had 29.2 percent of the Democratic primary vote, against Rael’s 25 percent. Jose Campos II received 18.8 percent, Linda Lopez received 14.2 percent and progressive candidate Jerry Ortiz y Pino received 12.8 percent.
Colón “truly had a grassroots campaign, with over 1,700 individual donors,” the most money raised of any lieutenant governor in the country, said ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising website.
Colón will face Republican candidate John Sanchez in November.
“It’s been nerve-wracking waiting,” a smiling but subdued Rael told The Independent at the state Democratic Party watch party at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, prior to conceding. “This was my first time running for public office.”
Rael conceded at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Colón, an Albuquerque attorney raised in Los Lunas, emphasized the role of public schools in lifting New Mexicans out of poverty and improving the state’s economy. He has a law degree from UNM, and served as chairman of the state Democratic Party.
Rael noted very low turnout, blaming it partly on the holiday weekend.
“A lot of people probably didn’t realize it was election day,” he said. “Also, when you don’t have a competitive race at the Governor level, turnout’s not going to be high. At the end of the day, today was really about the Governor’s race. Hopefully voters are saving their energy for November.”
The economy will be the main issue in the November election, Rael said.
