Southern GOP congressional hopeful Yvette Herrell calls the endorsement of her candidacy by former southern Dem Congressman Harry Teague "huge." Is it?  Well, it could give her a little boost in the Lea County area where Teague, a former county commissioner, is best known. But he served only one term in the US House, winning election in the 08' Obama landslide and getting defeated by Republican Steve Pearce in the Tea Party year of 2010.

While Teague's endorsement touts Herrell's friendliness toward "our important energy industry," it was his vote for a climate change bill that caused him to run afoul of his fellow oil patch owners. Then there was his vote against Obamacare that alienated the liberal Dem base in Las Cruces. He succeeded in making both sides mad in the swing district.

There there is the not so small matter of the NM Oil and Gas Association putting a knife in Herrell's back by coming to the rescue of Torres Small following the Teague endorsement:

The New Mexico Oil & Gas Association, which represents petroleum producers, said the Las Cruces Democrat's record show she understands the role that the oil and gas industry plays in the state. “Throughout her first term in Congress, she has been a strong advocate for our state’s energy interests and responsible production and has stood up to those in her party who want to completely ban fracking,” said Ryan Flynn, the association's executive director.

Herrell's primary opponent Claire Chase once chaired the NMOGA. Whether she had anything to do with raining on Herrell's parade is unknown. Perhaps the association is doing some CYA because they feel XTS is going to win. Maybe it’s some of both. For Herrell it is a near disaster that could hurt her fund-raising.

We received this statement from Chase:

I am supporting Yvette, sent her a campaign contribution, and have encouraged everyone else who has the means to do so.

The endorsement of Teague shows that Herrell is moving a bit to the center. R's fear that Trump is lagging behind Biden in the district and may not have enough mojo to pull Herrell through. (Full Teague endorsement here.)

The DC pundits rate this one "lean Dem."

Another challenger, GOP US Senate candidate Mark Ronchetti, is--like Herrell--still on the sidelines with no TV presence because of financial constraints, but he does take a shot at the latest ad from his Dem opponent Rep. Ben Ray Lujan. In the ad Lujan talks of his support for Medicare but does not mention his support for Medicare for All, a key issue for Dem progressives. Ronchetti's campaign says:

Ben Ray Luján is hiding his far-left D.C. record. . . This is further proof Ben Ray has put politics before the people of New Mexico, and his refusal to mention his support for Medicare-for-All makes it abundantly clear he knows New Mexicans won’t like his radical, D.C agenda.

Unlike Lujan's first two ads this one does not have any optic missteps. It features home movies of Lujan's father, the late and beloved NM House Speaker Ben Lujan, who died of lung cancer. And the Lujan stand-up hits the mark as he is finally at ease and connecting with the viewer.

The DC pundits rate the Senate race "solid Dem."

NORTHERN ALLIGATOR STRIKE

There's an alligator strike on freshly appointed Santa Fe Dem State Rep. Tara Lujan. It comes as the Santa Fe County Democratic Party Central Committee prepares for a crucial meeting to decide who will be their candidate on the November ballot for a full two year term to the District 48 seat.

Lujan, a former aide to Rep. Ben Ray Lujan and currently working in human resources for Dem State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg, was appointed last month by the Santa Fe County Commission on an 4 to 1 vote to fill the seat of former Rep. Linda Trujillo who resigned because of financial considerations. Lujan's term runs only until the end of the year.

As the Central Committee gets ready to name their pick, questions are being raised about Lujan's residency in the district. She says flatly:

I live in my district and am registered in my district.

The Alligator strike has her only recently registering to vote in the Linda Trujillo district--and at her parents house--while she actually lives with her husband in another district--that of retiring State Rep. Jim Trujillo. Her foes say she registered in the Jim Trujillo district with plans to run for his seat but then  the Linda Trujillo vacancy occurred and she made the switch.

The Santa Fe native says that "a couple of months ago" she indeed did move into the longtime home of her parents which is in the Linda Trujillo district and where "she grew up." She is now registered at the home of her parents. She says her husband continues to live in the home in the Rep. Jim Trujillo district. Tara added:

I love living in our multigenerational home. It reminds me of how I grew up surrounded by extended family. Choosing to serve as an unpaid legislator means making changes that I am more than happy to make as I serve my constituents with honesty and integrity.

Lujan was sworn in last week and was required to give up her state job to become a legislator.

Lujan beat out four others for the commission appointment, including heavyweights Tim Garcia, a former Court of Appeals judge, and former County Commissioner Paul Campos who previously ran for the seat.

It will be up to Lujan to put any unease to rest when the Central Committee meets August 15 to make their pick.

By the way, no R's are in the running and none need apply. This district is all D all the time--like since FDR.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2020