The comings and going continue in the crowded race for the Democratic nomination for the northern congressional seat. But the end of the shuffling is in sight because of the time needed to raise the hundreds of thousands to run a credible race.

Our Alligators were spot on when they said that they expected John Blair to get in the race when he announced last month he was resigning as NM deputy secretary of state. Blair did just that this week, announcing what the bean counters say is the ninth candidacy for the Dem nod.

Blair, 45, has long experience in the federal government, including a stint with Sen. Martin Heinrich. He bills his campaign as a "progressive" bid.

Blair has a way to go to break into the top-tier in the race. A good dose of fund-raising will be essential.

So where does the race stand for the nomination which is tantamount to winning the seat in the heavy Dem district? Well, our top-tier is the same but we are now ready to put them in order of strength.

--In first place is attorney Teresa Leger Fernandez. The endorsement of Emily's List can't be underestimated. Also, she is the strongest of the two Hispanic females seeking the nomination. That sits quite well with the DC Dems. The money should be there for her. She will still need grassroots muscle to perform well at the pre-primary convention next March.

--In second is Santa Fe County District Attorney Marco Serna. He got a break when consultant Robert Apodaca dropped out, making for one less Hispanic male rival for the nomination. State Rep. Joseph Sanchez still lurks but Serna's fund-raising is solid and will keep him in good stead for the next chapter in the contest.

--In third is Valerie Plame She narrowly led in the first batch of fund-raising reports but Blair's entry into the race will chip away at her Santa Fe base. And the former CIA spy must overcome "carpetbagging" charges and expand her appeal. Still, third place is nothing to sneeze at in a nine way contest. Plame's national name ID remains a big fund-raising plus.

SENATE CLASH

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan is vacating the northern congressional seat to run for the Dem nomination for US Senate, and he hasn't been shy about playing copycat to his rival, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. When Lujan came out in favor of starting impeaching proceedings against President Trump this week MTO could not resist calling him out:

“First it was the Green New Deal, then it was Medicare for All and not taking any more corporate money,” Toulouse Oliver said. “Today it’s impeachment. I’m glad to see the congressman adopting progressive values, but New Mexico deserves a U.S. Senator who will lead on the issues that truly matter.”

MTO first supported impeachment in May.

This is her first major foray into negative campaigning against Lujan who is the established front-runner in fund-raising and conventional opinion. Expect MTO to keep needling the six term congressman as she looks for something--anything--to shake this race up.

CITY RUN-OFF DATE

It's better than December 17th but the date set for the ABQ run-off election will still run up against the holidays. Political operatives report that last night the ABQ City Council set the 10th as the date for the run-off election for council seats in which no candidate gets 50 percent in the November 5th regular election.

It appears likely there will be run-offs for the seats in council districts two and four where multiple candidates are running. There are only two candidates each in the races for districts six and eight. A new state law pushed the city election from its traditional early October date into November thus the December run-off.