U.S. ELECTIONS | Guide to the 2008 Election
19 March 2008
New Mexico Politicians Face Off in Pre-primary Conventions
Contest important step toward participating in June primary
Washington -- New Mexico's congressional candidates spoke to their parties' faithful as they faced their first political contest March 15 in the state's unusual pre-primary conventions.
Both parties' leaders gathered at separate sites in Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, to hold conventions. Party members -- voting delegates and those interested in watching the process -- waved signs and cheered on their favorite candidates as they addressed the conventions.
Each state sets its own guidelines for how a candidate can get his or her name on a primary ballot. New Mexico's rules are somewhat unusual -- to guarantee a spot on the ballot, a candidate must earn 20 percent of delegates' votes at a party pre-primary convention. The candidate who earns the most votes gets his or her name placed at the top of the ballot.
Traditionally, if a candidate fails to receive 20 percent of the vote, he or she can submit petitions signed by a designated number of voters in order to be considered in the primary election.
In 2007, the state legislature unanimously passed a new law prohibiting the ability to get a name on the ballot with petition signatures. However, in
February 2008, concern from voters and local leaders -- some fearing that in some crowded contests no one would receive 20 percent of the vote -- led the legislature to repeal the 2007 law.
SENATE CANDIDATES CLAIM VICTORIES
The New Mexico U.S. Senate contest is one being watched closely by political pundits since long-serving Senator Pete Domenici, a Republican, announced his retirement due to health reasons. All three of New Mexico's representatives to the U.S. Congress -- Republicans Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce and Democrat Tom Udall -- have entered the contest.
As the only candidate, Udall easily earned his place on the Democratic primary ballot -- he received 100 percent of the vote.
At the Republican pre-primary convention, Wilson and Pearce spoke to party members about their conservative views on such issues as abortion, taxes, gay marriage and immigration.
Wilson, the current representative for the New Mexico 1st District, also talked about her ability to win competitive races. Wilson won her last re-election by just 800 votes.
Pearce earned the top primary ballot slot with 55 percent of the 433 delegates' votes, in what he said in a March 15 press release was an "a huge upset win."
"We did … what would have been unthinkable just a few months ago," Pearce said. "Today's results clearly show that I am the only candidate who has the momentum to beat Tom Udall in November."
Although Pearce said he scored an upset win, Wilson suggested in a March 17 press release that she actually had pulled off an upset.
"New Mexico Republicans understand that we must nominate a common-sense conservative who can win in November," Wilson said. "That's why we proved the pundits and my opponent, wrong. We picked up more support than anyone had predicted. The momentum has shifted our way."
The reason Wilson is the "upset winner," argues her campaign, is because Pearce's campaign manager said in a February 26 press release that his candidate was on the verge of a "huge victory" at the pre-primary, making the fact that he won the most votes not surprising.
"Wilson has been seen by many as the inevitable winner of the nomination. This assumption will soon be relegated to the ash heap of history," John Billingsley said in that press release.
FIELD OF CANDIDATES FOR 1ST DISTRICT NARROWS
The five Democratic candidates vying to replace Wilson in the U.S. House of Representatives addressed about 1,500 delegates at their convention.
During her speech, 28-year-old Jessica Wolfe, a former aide to Governor Bill Richardson, announced she was withdrawing from the race. Instead, she will seek a state Senate seat.
After the votes were counted, only two candidates earned enough votes to guarantee a spot on the primary ballot -- former Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan-Grisham, a 12th-generation New Mexican.
On the Republican side, only one candidate qualified for the ballot: Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White received 85 percent of the vote.
In both parties, those who did not quality for the ballot have indicated they will try to gather the signatures needed this week to stay in the race.
New Mexico voters will select their congressional nominees in a June 3 primary. New Mexico Republicans also will vote for a presidential candidate, even though John McCain is already presumed to be the nominee. Democrats held their presidential caucus February 5.
