Fringe candidate Gavin Clarkson, who was the GOP nominee for Secretary of State, is preparing a run which sounds like Mick Rich take two.

If circumstances remain apathetic we could have a repeat of the bust that happened this month in the Senate race that saw Dem Martin Heinrich re-elected. GOP nominee Rich was written off from the start and Libertarian Gary Johnson fizzled faster than a firecracker in a rainstorm. Obviously, Udall, 70, is hoping for something similar as he embarks on a campaign for what could be his final US Senate term.

If pressed, insider R's will throw out the name of Lt. Governor John Sanchez, but unconvincingly. Sanchez's star has faded along with that of Gov. Martinez who once was talked up as a potential Udall foe.

The last competitive Senate race featuring an incumbent was way back in 1994 when Republican Colin McMillan ran unsuccessfully (54-46) against Dem Senator Jeff Bingaman. And the last incumbent Senator to lose their seat was Republican Jack Schmitt back in '82 when Bingaman tripped him up.

On the other hand, when we had an open Senate seat in '08 we had a pretty fair campaign between Udall and GOP nominee Steve Pearce. And when Bingaman retired the match-up for his vacant seat between Heinrich and R  Heather Wilson was a race to watch.

A Senate campaign is a great platform for a vigorous debate over the national scene and the state's role in it, but not so much when the seat is filled with an incumbent. The R's will need to get going if they are going to make a serious try to overturn that history.

A STRANDED TRIO?

The possibility that Udall would not seek another term had the juices flowing among the new generation of Democrats who saw their names prominently mentioned as possible replacements. Now you wonder what will become of them. With Udall seeking re-election and Dem Michelle Lujan Grisham in the governor's chair, there are few higher office options for the trio of Attorney General Hector Balderas, ABQ Mayor Tim Keller and BernCo District Attorney Raul Torrez.

There is one long shot possibility that the trio will watch for--if a Dem president is elected in 2020 there is a chance that Sen. Heinrich could make a play to join their cabinet as Secretary of Interior. If that happened then the Governor would appoint a replacement to fill out his term. Of course, the Governor could appoint herself, again foiling the higher hopes of our stranded trio.

NAVAJO GATOR REPORTS 


We still have a bit of clean-up to do from the midterm election and we get to it with the able assistance of Navajo Gator, who files this report direct from Indian Country:

Joe: The Navajo Nation is preparing to inaugurate its newest president after a landslide victory by Jonathan Nez, the current vice president. Nez defeated former Navajo President Joe Shirley, 39,783 to 20,146 votes, with about 64 percent voter turnout in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. This election marks the end of the one-term presidency of Russell Begaye, brother of former NM Rep Ray Begaye, both of Shiprock. 

Nez will be joined by his vice president/running mate Myron Lizer, who is half Navajo and Comanche, a Baptist minister and Republican. There is a cloud of suspicion over the new administration, as President Begaye has charged that his vice president has taken personal travel on the tribal dime, hence calling for an investigation into Nez’s spending.  

Meanwhile, the Navajo Council has some substantial changes, with only 9 councilors winning re-election. There are now two additional women councilors, increasing to three the number of women on the 24 member Navajo Council. It will vote for its new Speaker after the tribal inauguration day January 15, 2019. 

The Navajo Nation has been credited with solidifying a lot of Democratic victories in New Mexico and Arizona, like Governor-elect Lujan-Grisham and Rep Ben Ray Lujan, but most profoundly in its support of Arizona US Senator-elect Kyrsten Sinema and US Rep. Tom O’Halleran. The Navajo electorate also aided the Democratic switch in the NM House race in which Republican State Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage of Cudeii was defeated by Democrat Anthony Allison of Shiprock.

I hope this is helpful.

Thanks, Navajo Gator. Very helpful and insightful. We cover all the angles around here, and that's why. . . .

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018