If those competing goals continue to circulate voters could get confused fast. But an error doesn’t mean punishment will follow.

One of the most striking reactions—or non-reactions—to his announcement was the lack of a Republican response by both the national Republicans and the ones here on the ground. 

The DC Senate GOP appeared lame when it said it was still searching for a candidate to take on the two-term senator. The local GOP was simply silent. That leaves a lot of room for error for Heinrich.

Perhaps the 51 year old two term Heinrich continues to dangle gubernatorial prospects as a ploy to clear the field of potential competitors. But his chief rival could be Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland and she’s not about to back away from anything. She will also take her good time determining what her future political plans are and whether they include a Guv run. 

Heinrich would’ve been better off nurturing his governor ambitions privately. But when you’ve led a charmed political life such as his that probably comes as an afterthought.

As for that video in which he said he is “all in” on his Senate candidacy, our Alligators were unimpressed. One of them offered this review:

I thought for a guy with that much money running for a second term, and maybe trying to run for governor, it was weak. This has none of the sophistication that you saw with, for instance, Bill Richardson’s return to NM back in the day

The major DC political pundits all rate the 2024 US New Mexico Senate race either safe Dem or solid D. With unintentional help from the Republicans, plus nearly $2 million in the bank, Heinrich should be able to make voters forget his awkward start.

HEINRICH AND SENIORITY 

We recently put the question out on whether Heinrich climbing up the Senate ladder with a new plum committee assignment might dampen his enthusiasm for any gubernatorial run. We got this response on his prospects from longtime DC reader Michael Thorning:

I'm a former staffer to Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall and now work on government reform at the Bipartisan Policy Center in DC. Congress is one of my areas of expertise, if one can ever be an expert in it. 

You wrote of Sen. Heinrich's prospects for a committee chairmanship that might impact his calculations about a future run for governor. Senator Heinrich is next in line at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where he has been representing the state's interests since he arrived in the Senate in 2013. The likelihood of his ascent depends, paradoxically, on Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-WV). Manchin currently is chairman of the committee.

 If Manchin were not re-elected or does not run, Heinrich would almost certainly be up to bat. But as you note, the scenario also depends on Democrats' remaining in the majority. Manchin is expecting a competitive re-election bid in West Virginia and Democrats' majority prospects likely depend on him winning, which would also likely keep Heinrich from the committee chairmanship for now. 

Heinrich is similarly next in line on the Intelligence Committee. Current chairman, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), seems unlikely to leave soon and was last elected in 2020. Given his levels of seniority on other committees, Warner is not likely to ascend to the chairmanship of another committee, which might draw him away from the Intelligence. 

Heinrich has positioned himself on the Senate Appropriations Committee and is currently a subcommittee chairman, a "cardinal" in Washington lingo. Not since Senator Domenici has New Mexico had a member simultaneously on both the Energy and Appropriations Committees.  Heinrich is also currently the chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, an under-the-radar assignment, but one Senator Bingaman long kept and valued.  

Among his fellow Democratic colleagues who came to the Senate in 2013, which includes household names like Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine, Heinrich has likely amassed the most committee seniority 

Thanks, Michael. An excellent summation that makes advocates for New Mexico queasy that Heinrich would be leaving so much on the table if he were to exit. Well, maybe this too shall pass and the Senator is just experiencing a midlife crisis. 

LEO DOW 

We were sorry to hear of the passing of former state senator (1967-76) and Albuquerque businessman Leo Dow. We got to know the Republican lawmaker when he was the lieutenant governor candidate under governor nominee Joe Skeen in 1978. They lost that year to Democrat Bruce King. 

 Dow, a native of Chilili, was a middle of the road Republican with a close association to Senator Pete Domenici. He was also quite the businessman having run his well-known ABQ Leonardo’s lounge for many years. 

Gov. Lujan Grisham remarked:

Senator Dow was an esteemed leader in his community and a dedicated public servant. He bravely served our country during World War II before becoming a successful businessman and entering public service. During his time as a state senator he earned a reputation of working with colleagues across the aisle and in both chambers, and he was highly regarded and respected by his peers. He was particularly close with U Senator Pete Domenici, with whom he worked closely to ensure crucial funding and programs were supported in New Mexico. I send my deepest condolences…

 Leo Dow was 96.

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