Flores to seek congressional open seat
Former journalist is ninth Democrat to seek position
SANTA FE — A ninth Democrat is seeking the party’s nomination to run next year for an open Albuquerque-area congressional seat.
John Flores, a former journalist and military veteran, confirmed he will seek the 1st Congressional District seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is running for governor in 2018.
Flores told the Journal he opposes President Donald Trump’s agenda and would support an effort to impeach Trump.
“Radical times require tough action, and I am ready for this challenge,” Flores told the Journal in an email.
He also said he would advocate for the protection of wildlife, including the Mexican gray wolf, while still maintaining the rights of ranchers.
The 2018 congressional bid marks Flores’ first run for public office. But he said he has worked for elected officials in the past, including the late U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas.
The 1st Congressional District seat includes most of Albuquerque and stretches east into Torrance
County. After being in Republican hands for years, the seat has been held by Democrats since 2009.
The other Democrats seeking the party’s 2018 nomination are Albuquerque attorney Damian Lara; former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Damon Martinez; Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis; former University of New Mexico Law School Associate Dean Antoinette Sedillo Lopez; Edgewood Town Councilor John Abrams; former state Democratic Party Chairwoman Debra Haaland; Sandia National Laboratories government relations official Annie Chavez, and Albuquerque physicist Dennis Dinge.
On the Republican side, two candidates have entered the race: former state Rep. Janice ArnoldJones and immigration lawyer Michael Hendricks.
New Mexico’s primary election will be held in June and the general election in November 2018.