Could the Democratic primary for the right to contest the open seat of Republican Steve Pearce in New Mexico get a little more crowded soon? Heath Haussamen has the goods.
State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, a respected moderate, will announce his intentions on November 4th. Cervantes could be an interesting candidate with the potential to tap into the sizable Latino vote in the district. Last week he sounded optimistic about a run:
Cervantes said he is “doing what it takes right now, at this stage, and it would be a great privilege to represent the district. I think the country clearly is looking for change and I’ve worked for seven years in a legislative body doing the same thing in Santa Fe.”
Cervantes would join ’06 nominee Al Kissling, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague in the Democratic primary.
While this R+5.7 district doesn’t sit at the top of the list of Democratic pick-up opportunities this cycle, it’s worth mentioning that the NRCC was trying their best to prevent Pearce from giving Democrats another open seat opportunity here. An anonymous national GOP official quoted by Haussamen summed up the situation for prospective local Republican candidates in the district:
“Somebody’s going to have to sink or swim in that district,” the official said. “Somebody’s going to have to do that on their own.”
Sounds like another opportunity for Democrats to test the limits of the cash-strapped NRCC.
Race Tracker: NM-02
any news on whether LtGov dennish will run for senate?
if Udall dosn’t reconsider that she will jump in
but udall and richardson?
polls have shown him whipping wilson, chavez, and madrid. is he better known? has he been around longer?
i know this is early and certainly all of these folks could turn those numbers around, but it’s surprising to me.
i do hope udall or denish jump in. waiting for richardson seems like a high risk strategy and though i know almost nothing about chavez, he seems to be going down like over-steamed carrots for the democratic blogosphere.