Who's in the Race?

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Here are the candidates filing Tuesday:

U.S. SENATE: Sen. Jeff Bingaman, the incumbent, was the only Democrat. Republicans filing were Farmington urologist Allen McCulloch, state Sen. Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque, Santa Fe City Councilor David Pfeffer and Santa Fe lawyer Francesca Lobato. Former state Sen. Tom Benavides of Bernalillo County and Roswell Wal-Mart assistant manager Steven Gavi had previously announced their candidacies but did not file.

U.S. HOUSE, DISTRICT 1: Republican incumbent Heather Wilson filed. Attorney General Patricia Madrid was the only Democrat filing to challenge her.

U.S. HOUSE, DISTRICT 2: Republican incumbent Steve Pearce filed. The sole Democrat filing was Albert Kissling, a retired minister from Las Cruces.

U.S. HOUSE, DISTRICT 3: Democrat incumbent Tom Udall filed. Ron Dolin, a Los Alamos National Laboratory homeland security expert, was the only Republican filer.

GOVERNOR: Richardson filed for his second term. Republicans filing were Damron and Edgewood minister George B. Bailey Jr., but Bailey said he did not collect enough signatures to have his name on the ballot.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: Democrat incumbent Diane Denish filed for re-election. State Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, R-Sandia Park, filed to seek the Republican nomination.

SECRETARY OF STATE: Democrats filing were Bernalillo County Clerk Mary Herrera of Albuquerque, former Secretary of State Stephanie Gonzales of Santa Fe, former Secretary of State Shirley Hooper of Santa Fe, and Letitia Montoya of Santa Fe. Former Albuquerque City Councilor Vickie Perea of Albuquerque was the lone Republican filing.

STATE AUDITOR: Democrats filing were Thomas R. Buckner of Rio Rancho, a state Regulation and Licensing Department supervisor; and Jeff Armijo of Albuquerque. The only Republican filing was Daniel Alvarez of Albuquerque, an Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and former state Corrections Department audit manager.

STATE TREASURER: Democrats filing were former state treasurer James B. Lewis of Albuquerque and Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela, D-Santa Fe. Republican Demesia Padilla, an Albuquerque accountant, filed for the spot.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Democrats filing were Geno Zamora of Santa Fe, Richardson's former chief counsel; former state legislator Gary King of Moriarty; and 13th Judicial District Attorney Lemuel Martinez of Grants. Republicans filing were Army National Guard Maj. Jim Bibb of Santa Fe; and former Bernalillo County District Attorney Bob Schwartz.

LAND COMMISSIONER: Democrats filing were Baca and another former land commissioner, Ray Powell. Incumbent Patrick Lyons was the only Republican to file.