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Sanchez formally enters Senate race
Lt. Gov. John Sanchez (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Lt. Gov. John Sanchez has formally entered the race to replace Jeff Bingaman in the U.S. Senate.
The Republican filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday. And the National Journal reported this afternoon that Sanchez will announce his campaign on Tuesday.
The lieutenant governor’s spokesman, Mark Van Dyke, had no immediate comment.
Sanchez, a former state lawmaker and Republican gubernatorial nominee, joins former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and two lesser-known Republicans – Greg Sowards and William S. English – in the GOP Senate primary.
He’ll enter the race at a financial disadvantage – Wilson raised more than $300,000 in the first quarter of the year and Sowards loaned his campaign $150,000 – but Sanchez could gain ground quickly if he opts for self-financing. He loaned his lieutenant governor campaign almost $274,000 last year.
Van Dyke confirmed that Sanchez was considering entering the Senate race in early march. At the time, he called Sanchez a “proven conservative” and a businessman who is “not going to change his position based on who he’s talking to.”
Sanchez later said that Wilson’s time had passed.
“I think Heather served honorably,” the D.C. publication The Hill quoted Sanchez as saying in late March. “But if we consider the choices that were made by former establishment candidates, I think it’s clear the choices will be very easy for the people of New Mexico.”
On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich and State Auditor Hector Balderas have entered the Senate race, as has little-known community activist Andres Valdez.
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This development certainly complicates things for Heather Wilson, but perhaps even more for Heinrich. The Dems would be idiotic to allow Heinrich a free ride in the Dem primary while the Republicans put their stock in a Latino candidate like Sanchez. President Obama NEEDS the Hispanic vote in 2012, and having John Sanchez as the Republican nominee for US Senate will almost certainly put NM at risk for Obama…unless the Dem nominee is Hector Balderas. In head to head against Sanchez, Balderas will neutralize the “Hispanic advantage” that Sanchez would have over Heinrich. In a head to head against Wilson, Balderas will run as the outside-the-beltway candidate to Wilson’s pervasive DC insider status. Sanchez jumping into the race is great news for Balderas, who undoubtedly is now the best general election candidate against either Wilson or Sanchez. I am sure that Democratic donors will begin to flow even more Balderas’ way – if not they risk a Heinrich v.s. Sanchez battle that will almost certainly yield the same results as Denish vs Martinez, with Sanchez chipping away at Democratic Hispanic voters and delivering to the GOP NM’s Senate seat.
A.M. – How right you are about his lack of education. Heck, even Darren White has a degree from the highly renowned “University of Phoenix”.
The sad fact is that we have a 48 year old man who has lived prosperously for the last 25 years or so and who would not make the effort to get an education. Pathetic.
Who?
We have a lieutenant governor?
Who?
Competition is a good thing. Let’s see how it plays out. Personally I think it does both parties well by having more than one person in the race. The more the better.
Oh, I forgot, Sanchez did win the 2002 Republican primary gubernatorial nomination (then lost big to Big Bill).
This primary will be the first time he has actually ‘run’ a statewide race. He became Lieutenant Governor by hanging on to Suzanna’s skirt. But this is a smart move for him. He does not risk his LG position but gets a chance to gain more statewide name recognition. On the other hand, if he loses that will diminish his luster. The same is true for Balderas, who also does not risk his State Auditor position. The one who has really put it all on the line is Heinrich.
John Sanchez seemed to have little common sense when he tied his future to Suzanna Martinez.
He now proves he lost a lot more than his gallbladder when he announced for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate.
The most unqualified Lt. Governor in New Mexico history has no business even dreaming of the state’s second highest political office.
But Sanchez’ arrogance and traditionally large camp of followers and salary-seekers continue to blind him to political reality.
Sanchez will be “lucky” to get sentenced to numerous “meet and greet” events throughout the state by Martinez…who is clueless to Sanchez’ inexperience and needy nature.
Education is crucial to our current and future generations who are the ones that are going to make New Mexicans stand strong and be competitive, therefore, I demand that the next U.S. Senator from New Mexico also be educated, John Sanchez has NO FORMAL EDUCATION, NO COLLEGE DEGREE AT ALL, ZERO, NOTHING and is lieutenant gov,ONLY because he happened to be on Susana’s ticket (since they were only more interested in using him for his money, not the person). We need to demand and expect more, NOT LESS!!! How are we going to encourage people to go to school when not even our potential senator hopeful John Sanchez has NO EDUCATION AT ALL???!!!! We need to get bold and tell John Sanchez to take a hike!! I agree with Dr.J this is stupid news!! Let’s get smart, not stupid!!! Take a long hike John Sanchez!!!!
I agree Dr. J. When will this party stop shooting itself in the foot and work for the common good of the cause? This will be 2008 all over again. No communication for the party.
There is plenty to be concerned about. We can replace a liberal with an ultra-liberal (Heinrich). New Mexico has always been successful in the past because of the balance in our Congressional delegation ( 3 Republicans, 2 Democrats). Since 2008, we have seen our representation in Washington become more of a liberal bastion.
Republicans do not have the luxury of a primary fight. Period.
I was originally inclined to agree with Dr. J about this, until another candidate pointed something out to me. This is a total freebie for Sanchez. It’s not like he’s risking the loss of his current office, and (more relevantly) it’s not like he’s actually doing anything at the moment.
Does he still get paid to be Lt Gov?
I only have one thought about this news, STUPID.