Bingaman to back Martinez campaign
SANTA FE — In a crowded primary, the eight Democrats scrambling to win the nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham are trying to set themselves apart by picking up endorsements.
Former U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez will announce today that he’s won the support of former U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat who represented New Mexico in Washington for 30 years.
Debra Haaland, a former state Democratic Party chairwoman, announced more than 30 endorsements of her own this week. They include five members of Congress, a series of local and national Native American tribes and tribal officials, and Alan Webber, a writer and entrepreneur who’s running for Santa Fe mayor.
And Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, a retired law
professor, announced recent endorsements from two Democratic U.S. House members from Arizona: Ruben Gallego and Raúl Grijalva.
Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, is running for governor instead of seeking re-election in the 1st Congressional District, which covers much of the Albuquerque area.
The best-funded candidates are Sedillo Lopez, Haaland, Martinez and Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis — each of whom has raised at least $130,000 in outside contributions.
Also running are Damian Lara, president of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association; physicist Dennis Dinge; Edgewood Town Councilor John Abrams; and former journalist John Flores.
The only candidate on the Republican side is former state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, who also served on the Albuquerque City Council. The primary election is in June.
DROPPING OUT: The field of Democrats is narrowing a bit in the 2nd Congressional District, covering southern New Mexico.
Tony Martinez and Adolf Zubia, both of Las Cruces, have dropped out.
Las Cruces attorney David Baake has been the leading fundraiser.
Mad Hildebrandt of Socorro, Ronald Fitzherbert of Las Cruces and David Lee Alcon of Milan are also running.