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.
Michael Rocca, an assistant professor of political science at the University of New Mexico, discussed the upcoming congressional midterm elections both nationwide and in New Mexico with UNM’s Benson Hendrix. His take? Things might not change all that much in the leadership, but the tea party movement is driving the conversation.
“We’re not going to see a complete culture change in Congress,” Rocca explained. Even if some freshman Democrats lose, the leadership in both the Democratic and Republican parties will stay the same, he says. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, are both not in danger of losing their elections this year.
As for New Mexico, Rocca says that the 2nd Congressional District race between Harry Teague, the incumbent Democrat, and Steve Pearce, the Republican challenger, is “absolutely [the] most compelling.” Rocca says there is really no incumbent advantage in the race, as Pearce held the seat for six years, only leaving the seat for an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 2008.
In the 1st Congressional District, Rocca says that incumbent Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, has the advantage over the Republican challenger, Republican Jon Barela. However, he cautions, “It’s too early to tell.” The name advantage fundraising advantage that Heinrich currently holds over Barela can erode over the final few months.
As for the 3rd Congressional District, “[Ben Ray] Luján isn’t going anywhere,” Rocca says.
Rocca also discussed his thoughts on the tea party movement and says the effect they have on the races won’t be necessarily “because they are going to kick incumbents out and win elections” but because “they’re setting the agenda.”
