The peripatetic, shoot-from-the-hip personality of Gary Johnson has been put on hold as the former two term NM GOP Governor hesitates over running for the US Senate.

The more cautious Johnson emerged Saturday evening immediately after the NM Libertarian Party awarded him their Senate nomination to replace Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn, Jr. who pulled out of the race, hoping that Johnson would lead the third party effort to unseat Dem Senator Martin Heinrich.

Johnson said he is still mulling over whether he can win the race which also includes Republican nominee Mick Rich:

A major factor is, simply, whether I can win. When I set out to summit Mt. Everest, I did not do so with the thought that I would just go half way up. Seeking to serve New Mexico in the Senate will be no different. If I run, it will be with the intention to win, and give our state a strong, independent voice in Washington.

And Johnson seems to be facing a political Mount Everest. By stalling on whether to take the plunge, he appears to be waiting for a mini miracle--that somehow Republican Rich will find a reason to withdraw from the race, giving Johnson a chance to take on Heinrich one-on-one, increasing his chances of unseating the incumbent.

But Rich has signaled strongly and repeatedly that he is not getting out. And to have a major party with an over 150 year history forgo putting up a Senate nominee in favor of a Libertarian could tear the party apart and further weaken its already fragile minority standing. Not to mention that Johnson ran as the Libertarian Party presidential candidate against Trump in 2016 and the GOP is now owned  lock, stock and barrel by Trump. 

The Libs have given Gary two weeks to make a decision. But one is expected within days.

Then there's the money. You can assume that Johnson did not get millions of dollars in immediate donor pledges as he floated the prospect of his Senate candidacy for better than a week. That also could be keeping him on the leash.

So Johnson, 65, has to make what will likely be the last consequential decision of his political career. But even if his decision is to dive in it may not be of much consequence to the state. No Libertarian has ever been elected to the Senate.

NANCY IN THE HOUSE 

They're keeping it relatively quiet because wherever she goes she is chased down by Republican video trackers and/or protesters, but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is in ABQ today. She will be attending a fund-raiser for ABQ Dem congressional candidate Deb Haaland. The event will be held this afternoon at the home of ABQ attorney Lisa Curtis and will also be hosted by northern Dem Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, chairman of the Dem Congressional Campaign Committee.

You can click on the invite posted here for more info. Should she win, Haaland would be the first Native American woman to serve in the US House. And that brings us to this news. . .

NAVAJO VOTING

Do you think there's just a little bit of interest in becoming the next president of the Navajo Nation? How about 18 candidates competing in the August 28 primary? We get a report from one of our Indian Country Alligators who says while candidate interest is high, he's not so sure about the voters:

Joe, Earlier this year, 18 presidential candidates qualified for the August primary. A few notables, as well as a few recycled candidates, have now been working their way through the reservation, the size of West Virginia, looking for votes.

Current Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye, brother of former and embattled NM State Rep. Ray Begaye, is also facing battles of his own after his hired legal counsel and daughter was arrested in Arizona for a DUI in a tribal vehicle, which was smashed into a semi. Begaye’s current vice president, Jonathan Nez, threw his hat in the ring, which many are noting as an act of defiance of the president. 

Former Navajo President Joe Shirley, his fourth attempt at running, has again decided to try to convince Navajo voters he has new and fresh ideas. Former Navajo Vice President Rex Jim also qualified and this is his second attempt at the top spot. Others include: Navajo Nation Council members – Tom Chee and Alton Shepherd; as well as a few community leaders. 

 Former Navajo Nation presidential candidate Chris Deschene, who was this year’s apparent front runner, decided against another bid, when a language qualification jeopardized his run four years ago. So, there will be some rumblings out this way in the next few weeks, but we'll have to see if  this group of 18 excites and motivates. 

The Nation is struggling to find its footing after coal-fired electric power plants are set to be mothballed, tribal revenue is drying up, faith in tribal leadership is at an all-time low and a new generation of voters are often disenfranchised when trying to infuse ideas into a government built and protected by tradition. 

Well, that's one Gator's perspective. The top two candidates will face off for the presidency November 6, the same day NM elects a new governor.

PEARCE VS. MLG

About Rep. Steve Pearce getting that South Valley irrigation ditch cleaned up and leaving his Dem Guv opponent--Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham--who represents the area-- looking a tad weak reader Janet Blair comments:

Joe, a few years ago, I reached out to Pearce to give him my opinion on a national issue that affected all of New Mexico. The staffer I spoke to would not take my name or my message and summarily dismissed me because my zip code indicated I was not in his district and therefore did not merit his attention. He has no real interest in representing all of New Mexico and will never get my vote.

Okay, but GOP Guv nominee Pearce will be getting the vote of another Democrat. that would be 95 year old Dorothy Runnels, widow of Dem Congressman Harold "Mud" runnels who represented the southern district from 1971-80. She said:

Our state needs help in so many ways. I tell every Democrat I know that in the race for Governor, Steve Pearce is the right person for the job. Steve Pearce puts the country and the people of New Mexico above party. I am proud to support his candidacy and know he will be a great Governor for all of New Mexico.

Runnels lives in Hobbs. Her late husband was involved in the oil business as was Pearce. Her son, Mike Runnels, became lieutenant governor of NM. Mike Runnels died at 69 in 2015. Harold Runnels died in office in 1980 at the age of 56. He was replaced by Republican Joe Skeen who won the seat in an historic write-in vote.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018