He banked nearly $2 million during the first three months of this year so it's about time Sen. Martin Heinrich made his bid for a third six year term official.
And he will do just that Friday, May 5th at a private home on Rio Grande Blvd. in ABQ, and in the process raise even more money for his campaign, with donations for the event topping out at $1000.
Heinrich had been holding back longer than usual on an official announcement and that led to speculation about his future plans which include pondering a run for Guv in 2026.
His official entry will silence any thoughts that he might not make another Senate run and should also quiet stirrings in GOP circles about mounting a significant challenge for the seat.
That challenge will apparently be meek. A former top GOP official tells us that there are no prominent GOP names circulating to run against Heinrich and they expect the party to field only a weak candidate. But surprises can happen.
If he gets an easy re-elect, will Heinrich then be off and running for Governor? All signs point to it but our Republican heavy says there is something that could stop him:
If he were to land the chairmanship of a major committee, I think that could keep him in DC.
Heinrich sits on the Senate committee on Intelligence, on the Joint Economic Committee, on Energy and on the powerful Appropriations Committee. We'll have to check with our DC Gators to see if he would have a shot at the top spot on any of those panels following the '24 election, if the Dems keep control of the Senate.
BLOG HEAT
Heinrich has taken reader blog heat over his possible run for Governor because a potential opponent for the Dem nomination is Sec. of Interior Deb Haaland. Here's some rebuttal from a longtime Heinrich ally:
Joe, Thankfully Martin has taken the lead of the Democratic Party, as no one else was doing it. Since Martin has taken that lead Democrats have raised more money, won every statewide race and we hold all three seats in Congress. Democrats are lucky to have Martin step up. Many states wish they had an elected official who is as engaged as Martin. As for not being a risk taker, Martin gave up a relatively safe seat on the ABQ City Council in 2007 to run against for Congress in what up until that time had been a Republican seat---and he won.
CLIFF AND CANDY
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| Rep. Ezzell |
The question now is whether Pirtle will do the right thing by the party and his constituents and resign the seat so Ezzell can be appointed to fill out his term and put to rest talk of the Dems having a shot at the SE NM district.
Pirtle, who has said he will not seek re-election in '24 but is insisting on staying until then, is busy dealing with a divorce his wife filed after she caught him in bed with another woman.
Ezzell, a rancher, is a fire and brimstone Republican and is being called a perfect match for the area. Here she is:
Folks, your voice needs to be heard. I've been up there 19 years and I will finish my 20th next year and I am going to make a change. I will be running for Senate District 32. I know a lot about agriculture, I know about (the) oil and gas industry, I know about education, I know about volunteerism. And whenever our needs are not being met up in rural areas, I think I can better serve all of the people of the state of New Mexico on the Senate side
A GOP consultant says Ezzell currently lives outside the district but has property within it that she will use to establish residency.
We won't say "no Dems need apply" but it's close. 46% of registered voters in the Pirtle district are Republicans, 29% Democrats and 24% Indys.
Conservative Democrat and Roswell Mayor Tim Jennings, who Pirtle ousted from the Senate seat in 2012, is now trying to start a boomlet for him to run in '24 and at the same time stay on as Roswell mayor.
Not going to happen, Tim, and if you jump in the GOP will muddy you up good. Besides, word is you're doing a bang-up job as Mayor so why not keep it that way?
The county commissions from the three counties in the district--Chavez, Eddy and Otero--would send a name or names to MLG to replace Pirtle should he resign. Ezzell would be a popular choice and MLG would have no trouble signing off on her.
So Cliff, don't go over the cliff. Do something sweet for Candy--and the people of New Mexico.
ABOUT THAT SALARY
With the legislature approving pay raises for other statewide elected officials to take effect this year, the Governor's salary is now the lowest among the group and among the lowest in the nation.
We also reported Thursday on the outsized raises MLG gave key staffers on the Fourth Floor late last year. That brought reader email along these lines:
What a slap in the face to all the hardworking people people in state government who just get cost of living adjustments--and an especially stinging slap to those people who lost their businesses and jobs because of the pandemic.
Several legislators--including ABQ Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto--saw our error on the timing of the Guv's pay raise as a major infraction and demanded the traditional ten lashes with a wet noodle be administered. We asked a panel of Senior Alligators for a ruling and they said that the punishment shall be reduced to five lashes. "Lent is over," said the head Gator. "We'll give him a break."
Thanks, but we're bracing for impact. . .
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023