EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – The Republican Party of New Mexico has picked its candidates for the June 4 primary. The contenders for the top four slots – one U.S. Senate and three House seats – are set to appear unopposed as of now.
GOP delegates united behind Nella Domenici, casting all 487 votes in the race in her favor at the party’s pre-primary convention Saturday in Albuquerque. The daughter of former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici – the longest-serving U.S. senator in New Mexico history – would appear on track to challenge Democratic incumbent Martin Heinrich in November.
Domenici is a former chief financial officer for Bridgewater Associates, a Harvard graduate and holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, according to her LinkedIn profile. Heinrich has represented New Mexico in the Senate since 2012 and sits in the powerful Appropriations Committee, as well as the Intelligence, Joint Economic and Energy and Natural Resources panels.
Yvette Herrell also will appear uncontested in the race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, which she represented from 2020 to 2022 and includes all of New Mexico’s border with Mexico. The nonpartisan 270towin.com currently lists the district held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez as a toss-up.
Louie Sanchez and Sharon Clahchiscilliage qualified to be on the Republican ballot for the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, respectively. Those seats are held by Democrats Melanie Stansbury and Teresa Leger Fernandez.
“We have a strong group of diverse and competent candidates ready to lead and advocate for policies that will end out-of-control inflation, secure our borders, hold criminals accountable and protect our constitutional rights,” Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce said in a statement after the convention, which was closed to the press.
He said Democrats “have failed our nation” and expressed hopes the GOP would break their hold on power. All members of the 2022 New Mexico congressional delegation are Democrats.
The Democratic Party of New Mexico holds its 2024 pre-primary convention on March 9. For details, visit their website.
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