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.

Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate Brian Colón launched his second TV ad today. According to a press release by his campaign, the ad will be airing on network and cable TV statewide.

The ad focuses on education and Colón says, “As our children grow up, I want to make sure they’re learning everything they’re supposed to learn.”

The transcript is below:

GIRL: In kindergarten I learned how to read!

FIRST GRADE BOY: How to add and subtract…

SECOND GRADE GIRL: Computers…

THIRD GRADE BOY: Fractions…

FOURTH GRADE GIRL: New Mexico history…

FIFTH GRADE GIRL: Composition writing…

SIXTH GRADE BOY: Geography…

SEVENTH GRADE GIRL: Biology…

EIGHTH GRADE BOY: Algebra…

NINTH GRADE BOY: Literature…

TENTH GRADE GIRL: Chemistry…

ELEVENTH GRADE BOY: Trigonometry…

TWELFTH GRADE GIRL: I learned I’m going to college.

BRIAN COLÓN: I’m Brian Colón. And as our children grow up, I want to make sure they’re learning everything they’re supposed to learn. That’s how they get a good job and how we bring good jobs to New Mexico.

As lieutenant governor, I’ll make that my job. Por sus hijos también.

While the former chairman of the state Democratic Party, Brian Colon, raised over $250,000 and Lawrence Rael raised almost $150,000 after the first fundraising period, Solano raised a little less than $12,000.

The money wasn’t the only reason why Solano decided to end his campaign, as he outlined in his blog post.

After all the campaign finance reports came out I decided to go into hiatus on raising money. I needed to make a decision as to whether I would be staying in the race. Until I decided for sure I did not want to take any additional money while I was unsure of my position on staying in the race. We did begin to gather petition signatures which were needed to garner a place on the ballot. In addition to gathering petitions we reached out to State Convention Delegates to see where we were in garnering the 20 percent needed to get on the ballot in June as well. A lot of voters don’t realize that they are the last to decide who wins a race or not. There are numerous hurdles candidates need to get over before voters ever get to see their name on a ballot. One of these is getting past the delegates at the State Democratic Convention. One of my opponents has a decided advantage in that arena having been Chairman of the State Democratic party for over two years. I expect him to take well over the 20 percent of delegates in the convention leaving the rest of the candidates to fight over what remains.

While Solano does not say what he will do next, he has already endorsed his undersheriff, Robert Garcia, to replace Solano as Santa Fe County Sheriff.

“Whether in an elected office or not I will always be an outspoken advocate for you and for what is right,” Solano told his supporters on his blog.

Santa Fe radiologist J.R. Damron, Albuquerque state Sen. Kent Cravens, former state Rep. Brian Moore of Clayton and Albuquerque nurse Bea Sheridan are Sanchez’s current opponents in the Republican primary.

Cravens

Sen. Kent Cravens, a Republican from Albuquerque, announced yesterday that he will join the race for lieutenant governor, the AP reports. He joins a field already crowded with nearly a dozen other candidates, mostly Democrats. Cravens has become known for his work on DWI laws since four of his relatives were killed by drunk driver Gordon House on Dec. 24, 1992.

“While there are many candidates who bring diverse experiences to this race, one candidate in particular stands out above the rest,” Padilla wrote. “Mr. Brian Colón has already shown that he will be a voice for the voiceless based on his advocacy for all New Mexicans as the Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party.”

Padilla cited Colón’s success as Democratic Party chairman and said, “his ideas, energy, and experience as an attorney and the Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party have prepared him with the tools needed to successfully take on the duties of the office of Lieutenant Governor.”

Padilla will read a statement announcing that he is not running and instead backing Colón’s bid at tonight’s Lieutenant Governor’s forum in Santa Fe.

Those who will participate in tonight’s forum are Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, Albuquerque state Sens. Linda Lopez, Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Tim Eichenberg, state Rep. Jose Campos of Santa Rosa, Colón and veteran politico Lawrence Rael.

The candidates in the race for Lieutenant Governor are Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, Albuquerque state Sens. Linda Lopez and Gerald Ortiz y Pino, and state Rep. Jose Campos of Santa Rosa. Former state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colón and veteran politico Lawrence Rael are raising money but haven’t officially announced — thought both Colón and Rael look to be included in the Santa Fe Democratic Party’s count of seven.

Law student and former Naval officer Matthew Padilla is also considering a run.

“After much thought and consultation with my wife, family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to enter the Democratic primary race for Lieutenant Governor,” Mayor Maestas said.

“As a native New Mexican and longtime public servant, I care deeply about our great State. The need for comprehensive ethics reform and fiscal responsibility in these unprecedented, uncertain, and turbulent times requires bold, experienced leadership at the highest levels of state government. Although I firmly feel that I possess that type of leadership, the time is simply not right for me to enter this race.”

So who is still running for the Democratic nomination?

If my memory is correct, Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, Albuquerque state Sens. Linda Lopez and Gerald Ortiz y Pino, and state Rep. Jose Campos of Santa Rosa have all announced they are running for lieutenant governor. Former state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colón and veteran politico Lawrence Rael are raising money but hasn’t officially announced. And law student and former Naval officer Matthew Padilla is also considering a run.

Former United States Navy officer, University of Notre Dame graduate and current American University law student Matthew Padilla says in a letter to local bloggers he has “been thinking very seriously about running for Lt. Governor of New Mexico in the 2010 election.”

Padilla, who graduated from Rio Grande High School, says he is considering a run because he “strongly believe[s] our government needs leaders who are willing to make tough decisions and form creative solutions to deal with our State’s toughest issues.”

Padilla cites education reform, promoting sustainable development and protecting first responders as three of our state’s “toughest issues.”

Padilla has also wrote three commentaries for the New Mexico Independent as well as opinion pieces in the Albuquerque Journal and at the blog Democracy for New Mexico.

If Padilla does decide to enter the race, he will further crowd the field. The current crop of candidates for the race include Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, state Sens. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Linda Lopez — and more have been rumored to be considering runs for the chance to succeed current Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. She happens to be the only announced 2010 Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

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.

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

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.