Top Democratic post attracts interest

New Mexico Democrats will elect a new state party chairman in April, and the field of candidates is starting to shape up.

The party’s current vice chairman, Juan Sanchez III of Belen, formally launched his candidacy Monday in Albuquerque, joining two other candidates who have already signaled their intentions to run for the highprofile volunteer post.

Former Santa Fe County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Ellenberg and Rusty Pearce, a Las Cruces resident who attended last year’s Democratic National Convention as a delegate for Bernie Sanders, are the two other announced candidates.

Current state Democratic Party Chairwoman Debra Haaland announced in November that she would not seek a second term, opening the door to a new leader. Whoever is elected will guide the state party through the 2018 election cycle.

New Mexico Republicans already held their leadership election, choosing Ryan Cangiolosi last month as the state chairman.

LT. GOV. RACE: The 2018 election is still nearly two years away, but a Democrat has jumped into the lieutenant governor’s race and a prominent Republican is weighing a bid of his own.

Democrat Jeff Carr of Eagle Nest, a former member of the Public Education Commission, announced last week that he will seek the state’s secondhighest post, saying he would focus on education, economic and environmental issues.

Meanwhile, Public Regulation Commissioner Pat Lyons of Cuervo recently told the Journal he’s considering a run for the GOP lieutenant governor nomination. His second four-year PRC term ends next year, and he’s barred from seeking a third consecutive term.

Expect more candidate announcements for lieutenant governor in the next few weeks and months. And although there’s just one confirmed gubernatorial candidate, U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., more than a halfdozen others could launch campaigns by the end of this year.

In New Mexico, the lieutenant governor runs on a ticket with the governor in the general election but must win nomination in a stand-alone primary election.