Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, the frontrunner among three Democrats seeking the right to take on U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., next year, has announced a number of high-profile endorsements of his candidacy.

The list of visible Democrats includes state Sens. Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Cisco McSorley; state Reps. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, Mimi Stewart and Gail Chasey; Albuquerque City Councilors Debbie O’Malley, Michael Cadigan and Isaac Benton; and Public Regulation Commission Vice Chair Jason Marks.

The endorsements were announced at a news conference Wednesday in Albuquerque.

“I am truly humbled to have the support of these outstanding public officials, all of whom I have admired for their devotion to making central New Mexico a better place to live, work and raise our children,” Heinrich said in a news release.

“Martin Heinrich has worked hard to protect our neighborhoods by limiting sales of over-the-counter medications used to manufacture methamphetamine, setting standards for problem motels and vacant buildings, preventing graffiti, regulating liquor sales and more,” Stewart said.

“Martin will go to Washington and fight for our priorities,” Ortiz y Pino said. “Heather Wilson’s ethical scandals have placed a cloud over our district, and one of Martin’s top priorities is to bring accountability and honor back to the 1st Congressional District of New Mexico.”

Two other Democrats – party insider Bryon Paez and attorney Jon Adams – have entered the contest, but Heinrich raised $181,000 during the second quarter of the year, leaving them behind in the money race. The endorsements are clearly timed to discourage any others considering getting into the race and make it hard for Paez and Adams to raise cash.