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.
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján has told state Democratic party leaders that he will not run for Senate in 2012, according to a report from Politico on Monday. The strength of Senate candidate, and fellow member of Congress, Martin Heinrich’s candidacy was a factor in Luján’s decision.
New Mexico blogger Joe Monahan said Monday morning that Luján told Farmington Democrats that he would instead run for a third term in the 3rd Congressional District. The seat is considered a safe Democratic seat.
Politico reported:
Heinrich, also in his second term, became the first Democrat to enter the contest on April 2, just after the conclusion of the first fundraising quarter. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Patty Murray heaped praise on Heinrich during a briefing with reporters and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees endorsed him just last week.
“There was a pretty big message being sent,” said one Democrat familiar with Lujan’s calculation.
Luján first won election to Congress in 2008 in an open seat race and was reelected last year to the district that covers much of northern New Mexico.
There will still be a Democratic primary despite Luján’s decision not to run. State Auditor Hector Balderas is running for the open Senate seat and is considered by many to be a top-tier candidate. He will formally announce his candidacy next week. Activist Andres Valdez has also said that he will run for the seat.
The seat is open after Jeff Bingaman announced earlier this year that he would not run for a sixth-term in office.
Among Republicans, former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, businessman Greg Sowards and columnist Bill English are in the race. U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez are also considering runs at the seat but have made no announcements yet.
Update 5:30 pm:
“I appreciate the outpouring of support I have received while traveling around New Mexico these past few months, and my focus will continue to remain on serving the hard-working men and women of New Mexico – fighting to turn our economy around, put people back to work, and move our state forward,” Lujan said in a statement. “After careful consideration, I have decided that I will not seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race. ”
Lujan went on to say that he will continue to chair the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ BOLD political action committee and work on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s recruiting committee.
