Congress Daily is reporting that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez (D) is to enter the race today for the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.). On the Republican side, Rep. Heather Wilson (R) is already in — she would represent a downgrade for conservatives, as Paul Gessing noted here last week.
The other downside is that House Republicans will find it very difficult — perhaps impossible — to keep her seat. Wilson has had nine lives in the First District, hanging on in every tough race. I made the unforgivable mistake of predicting her downfall last year in the Evans-Novak Political Report – as a reporter friend of mine likes to say, “You always bet on Heather Wilson, just because she’s Heather Wilson.”
Conservative Rep. Steve Pearce (R), from the adjoining Second District seat in the south, has his eye on the seat as well. The Politico refers to him as the less electable candidate, but this also discounts Wilson’s U.S. Attorney problem.