Rocky Mountain Political Grok

Udall Up for Domenici’s Seat, Cubin’s Out in ‘08, Obama In Boise

By Greg Lemon, 11-13-07

Representative Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, has officially jumped into the race for the Senate seat of retiring Pete Domenici. Udall is giving up running for re-election to his House seat and his influential spot on the House Appropriations Committee to pursue the Senate spot.

Udall’s move was speculated about for weeks before he made his official announcement over the weekend.

Incredibly, Udall’s decision means that all three New Mexican Representatives will be running for Domenici’s seat (besides Udall, Republicans Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce are in the mix) and they will face a handful of other candidates from both parties. Udall will likely face Albuquerque Mayor, Martin Chávez, as well as Jim Hannan and Leland Lehrman. However, Lehrman and Hannan may reconsider now that Udall is in the race.

According to an article last week in the Sante Fe New Mexican: “Democrats who have said they are considering the Congressional District 3 race — if Udall runs for Senate — are Public Regulation Commissioner Ben Ray Luján, state auditor Hector Balderas, former County Commissioner Javier Gonzales, current County Commissioner Harry Montoya, former state Rep. Patsy Trujillo, Española Mayor Joe Maestas, Sheriff Greg Solano and lawyer Geno Zamora.”

In Wyoming, Rep. Barbara Cubin also announced Saturday not to seek an eighth term in Congress. Cubin has had a rough year personally, writes NewWest.Net’s Brodie Farquhar in a recent piece.

“Cubin’s physician husband Fritz has been seriously ill this year, and she had a brother die as well. Cubin broke her foot in September. All of these health issues have given her the worst voting record in the House of Representatives, of a living representative—missing almost half of all votes cast in this session of Congress,” wrote Farquhar.

Cubin narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Gary Trauner in 2006. Trauner is running again and is facing a primary challenge from Al Hamburg of Torrington.

“Three Republicans have announced their intention to seek the GOP nomination for the U.S. House—Bill Winney, a retired naval officer, Kenn Gilchrist of Casper and Swede Nelson of Cheyenne. State Rep. Colin Simpson of Cody said last spring he intended to seek the nomination, but has yet to make a formal announcement,” wrote Farquhar.

Also in Wyoming, the Republican National Committee announced that the state will lose half of its delegates to the national convention for holding an early primary.  Wyoming’s primary is scheduled for Jan. 19, but the state GOP will not reschedule just because the national committee is taking away delegates, wrote the Capser Star-Tribune. 

“Wyoming GOP officials said earlier the loss of delegates is a price they were willing to pay to get attention from the presidential candidates,” Joan Barron of the Star-Tribune wrote. “So far four of the eight Republican candidates have visited the state: Fred Thompson, former Tennessee senator and actor; Texas congressman Ron Paul; California congressman Duncan Hunter; and Romney, who stopped briefly in Jackson earlier this year.”

Also, filed under the “in case you haven’t heard” box, Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama has opened a campaign office in Boise.

“It will help us with a good strategy and execution,” David Plouffe, Obama’s national campaign manager told the Boise Weekly. “We’ll marry that with a lot of enthusiasm on the ground.”

Obama’s focus has been in early primary and caucus states like Iowa and New Hampshire, but states with Febuary primaries or caucuses will begin getting more of his attention as the race for the nomination intensifies, Plouffe said.

Greg rounds up the week’s political news in the Rockies each week in the Rocky Mountain Political Grok. If you have story idea for the Grok, reach Greg at politics@newwest.net.

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