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.
State Auditor Hector Balderas made it official and announced today that he is officially running for U.S. Senate. News leaked last week that Balderas filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the open Senate seat, but Balderas made his official announcement Tuesday morning.
Balderas, a Democrat, will face U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich in the state’s Democratic Party for the open seat left when Sen. Jeff Bingaman announced earlier this year that he would not run for a sixth term in office. This is the second time in three cycles that New Mexico will have a Senate race with no incumbent running.
Balderas focused on his time growing up in the small northern New Mexico town of Wagon Mound in his announcement email and video. He says will try to “bring more Wagon Mound values to Washington, D.C.” Balderas currently lives in Albuquerque.
“Accountability and fiscal responsibility are not Republican words,” Balderas said in his opening video. “And I’m tired of hearing them used as excuses to shortchange our children and break promises to our seniors.”
Balderas also played up his outside-the-beltway credentials in his announcement.
“In this campaign, I won’t have the most connections in Washington. I won’t be the candidate of the lobbyists or the insiders,” he said in the video. “But I’m not running to be their senator, I’m running to be yours.”
Before being elected in 2006 as the youngest Hispanic statewide elected candidate in the country and reelected in 2010 to the position of State Auditor, Balderas served in the New Mexico House of Representatives for one term. Balderas also worked as an assistant District Attorney in Albuquerque.
Balderas will have his work cut out for him in the primary. Heinrich has already received two high-profile endorsements from organized labor and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has praised Heinrich and hinted that the national group dedicated to electing Democrat senators may endorse Heinrich.
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., cited Heinrich’s strength as one reason why he opted not to run for Senate.
On the Republican side, there’s still potential for a high-profile primary. Former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson has already announced her candidacy as have businessman Greg Sowards and columnist Bill English. U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez are also reportedly looking at runs at the open Senate seat.
On the Democratic side, activist Andres Valdez has said he is running for Senate, and USDA rural development state director and former Bingaman state director Terry Brunner is also reportedly looking at running for the seat.
