Crossposted at New Mexico FBIHOP
The two most dispirited people after hearing the news of Martin Chavez dropping out of the Senate race have to be Republican Senate candidates Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce. The two will almost undoubtedly be involved in a contentious and expensive Republican primary, while Udall coasts to easy victory in the Democratic contest.
That will allow Udall to raise more money and have near-universal support among Democrats in the state. Udall would have almost undoubtedly received a majority of the support of Democrats in the primary. But the damage Chavez could have done while in the race attacking Udall while attempting to gain traction could have proved fatal to Udall’s chances in the general election.
More under the fold.
But thanks to Chavez’ dropping out of the race, Udall moves even further ahead of his Republican colleagues in the House. The Udall camp must have been positively giddy to hear the news; to keep that happiness in the Udall campaign offices, pitch in a few bucks to the Udall campaign. C’mon, it won’t hurt.
But what about Chavez? There was some fear among Democrats that Chavez would again change races (he previously abandoned his gubernatorial run for the Senate run) and go for the open First Congressional District seat. Currently, Martin Heinrich, Michelle Lujan-Grisham and Jason Call are in the race on Democratic side. I have heard from some people in the know (and Kos agrees) that Chavez will not go for the Congressional seat.
Will he go back to his ill-fated race for governor? Doubtful. Chavez had a reason for dropping out of the race for governor, and I’m not sure if all that much has changed for his reasoning; if anything, Denish looks even more entrenched as the frontrunner and heir presumptive to Richardson’s post.
So that means Marty is done politically after his second term as mayor and Kos will get his fondest dream, right? After all, he is term-limited and there aren’t really any other positions in the state to run for (I don’t think I can see Chavez as the Lt. Gov.). Nope. He might run for a third term as mayor, challenging the term limits.
Remember this piece from the Albuquerque Tribune a year ago?
The City Charter might limit the mayor to two consecutive terms, but Martin Chavez doesn’t think that would stand up in court.
Chavez, who is serving his second consecutive term as mayor, said last week he might consider trying for a third term, or running for governor or the U.S. Senate.
Governor? Tried, failed. Senate? Tried, failed? Third term as mayor? …