Monahan

It's a primary season like no other with the candidates fighting for oxygen as the coronavirus crisis continues to dominate. But the political community is hot on the campaign trail and our trusty Alligators are chiming in on where the major races stand today:

Northern Congressional District---This race for the Democratic nomination is leaning toward Teresa Leger Fernandez, say the Gators watching closely. The other major contenders are Valerie Plame, Marco Serna and John Blair. TLF won a sweeping March win at the Dem preprimary convention, has been endorsed by major national Dem interest groups, has raised adequate money,  run decent TV and has made no major mistakes. In sum, nothing much has changed since she took the pole position with that March win. Will Plame's flamboyant TV ads kicks in and she closes? The primary victor is nearly guaranteed to take the heavy Dem seat in November and succeed Rep. Ben Ray Lujan.

Southern Congressional District--The bitter race between Claire Chase and Yvette Herrell for the GOP nomination for the southern seat has drawn interest but the fundamentals haven't changed, says a consensus of Alligator opinion. They have Herrell taking the prize as she did at the GOP March preprimary. Chase has a lot of money and is spending but Herrell isn't in the poorhouse. There have been no breakthrough moments yet to change the incline of this contest toward Herrell. Can Chase throw  a needed curve ball? The winner faces Dem Rep. Xochitl Torres Small who will be seeking her second term.

US SENATE--Rep. Ben Ray Lujan is unchallenged for the Democratic nomination. The R's appear to be leaning toward former TV weatherman Mark Ronchetti as their nominee. He is the only one of the three  hopefuls up with a TV buy, has raised the most money and had a decent second place showing at the GOP preprimary. There is a caveat. Former Trump administration official Gavin Clarkson appears to be on the move as Elisa Martinez, the preprimary winner fades. Clarkson might make some waves as he continues to paint Ronchetti as an anti-Trumper but voters have to see and hear more of Clarkson.

GETTING SLAMMED

Rural New Mexico is getting slammed by the corona shutdown and none harder than already suffering Farmington in the Four Corners where the 2008 natural gas price crash stayed and never left. The city of 40,000 was already in a death spiral then came the shutdown. The NYT picks up the story. With portions of the county overlapping the virus-stricken Navajo Nation there isn't much hope that the embattled city will get any breaks soon.

NOT ENOUGH LOCKDOWN?

Reader Carl Baca of Las Cruces writes:

The lockdown in Gallup ended Sunday at noon. Shouldn’t the lockdown have lasted 2 weeks? If I come in from out of state or think I have been exposed it is recommended I self quarantine for two weeks. How come the Governor didn’t extend it for two weeks? Is this really the safe thing to do? I read since the mayor didn’t request it that it was not extended. Given the rate of infections I think it should have been locked down for longer. Is this really keeping up the governments side of the social contact the Governor keeps talking about?

Reader Jim Southard writes:

I don’t think it’s been widely noticed but the mail delivery system is almost broken. It took 2 weeks to get a registered letter from Minnesota to Denver. I am waiting on another from Denver than is over 2 weeks at this point. Anyone else still use snail mail?

Former NM first lady Clara Apdoaca, who was married to Dem Governor Jerry Apodaca, writes to says she believes New Mexico Dems "need moderates" in the state Senate:

It is with utmost trust that I endorse Senator Clemente Sanchez for re-election to the Senate representing District 30. As Chair of the Corporations and Transportation Committee and member of the Legislative Finance Committee Senator Sanchez has proven his commitment to fiscal soundness while still supporting workers and our educational and health systems.

Sanchez of Grants is being challenged in the June Dem primary by longtime Dem activist Pam Cordova of Valencia County.

DEBATE TIME

The Dem candidates for the northern congressional seat will appear on KOAT-TV at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 17. The station says the forum will be conducted “virtually." The candidates are John Blair of Santa Fe, Teresa Leger Fernandez of Santa Fe, Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya of Rio Rancho, Valerie Plame of Santa Fe, state Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde, 1st Judicial District Attorney Marco Serna of Santa Fe and Kyle Tisdel of Taos.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020