Harold Pope, Jr.

Opponents continue to line up to take on veteran state Senators long comfortable in their seats but who are now being forced off their easy chairs and onto the campaign trail. The latest. . .

On ABQ's westside Democrats have been anticipating a stiff challenge for GOP Senator Sander Rue who narrowly escaped losing the seat in 2016 when educator Joy Garratt lost to him 52 to 48. That signaled the district was becoming more blue. Harold Pope, Jr. a retired air force officer, says he's ready to pick up where Garratt left off and is seeking the Dem nomination and right to take on Rue next November.

Pope, 45, is the only Dem running so far and it's expected to stay that way.

A major twist in this race is that Pope would apparently be the first African-American elected to the  state senate. Pope calls that historic but not why he is running. Instead, he faults Rue for not keeping  up with traffic and other infrastructure needs in the district. Pope also touts his strong support of teachers and his desire to concentrate on health care.

Rue

Rue, a member of the influential Senate Finance Committee, is liked on both sides of the aisle but the seat is too tempting and his defeat could have far reaching implications.

Pope tells me he would not support the conservative Senate coalition that controls the chamber. It's composed of all 16 Republicans and a half a dozen or so Dems. A knock out of Rue would be a big blow to the R's and that ruling coalition.

Rue, 65, has not been a GOP firebrand in the increasingly blue district. At first he embraced then GOP Governor Martinez but later had a nasty falling out with her when he urged more transparency for the Governor's contingent fund. That gave him some street cred with the D's and many independents.

Rue will need his A game next year. If the Trump vibe is bad he could be swept away as happened to many BernCo state House R's in 2018. Still, friends of Rue say he outpaces newcomer Pope in the knowledge and experience departments and his fund-raising should be solid.

CERVANTES CHALLENGED

Ontiveros

Then there's Dem state Senator Joe Cervantes who suffered a third place finish in the 2018 Dem Guv primary and now seeks re-election to his legislative seat. Like Rue, Cervantes is being pushed into heavy door-knocking to keep Dona Ana County District 31 that he has held since 2012.

The 58 year old is being challenged by 45 year old Melissa Ontiveros, a decidedly more progressive Dem than the variety represented by attorney Cervantes.

She is is a Special Operations Coordinator for the nonprofit Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico whose mission is to "partner with New Mexicans to overcome adversity by connecting our communities, encouraging family wellness, empowering families and bridging resources."

Cervantes

Cervantes served in the state House from 2001-12. He has not had a serious challenge since joining the senate but that will change in 2020. His family has deep and profitable ties to the agricultural industry in the Las Curce area so financing a campaign is no problem.

But Ontiveros could be a problem in Las Cruces where progressives have been showing muscle while Cervantes, chairman of the Senate Conservation Committee, has prided himself on being a middle of the road Democrat while many D's veer left.

Also, women voters and candidates were dominant in those '18 BernCo House battles. That's a trend that will keep the cerebral Cervantes on guard.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019