Today is the second and final time that candidates will file campaign finance reports in 2015, an off-election year for legislative races.
With Dianna Duran in a heap of legal and political trouble from alleged campaign finance violations, mixed in with charges like identity theft and money laundering, more attention is now on campaign finance reports. Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque, James Madalena, D-Jemez Pueblo, Andy Nuñez, R-Hatch, and others are facing scrutiny over their reports.
Still, it is an off-year and statewide positions are not up for grabs (though the Secretary of State position could be up depending on if and when Duran leaves office).
The most high profile races in 2016 will be legislative seats, with control of both the House and Senate in the balance.
These reports will cover the time from April 7 to Oct. 5 and are due at the end of business.
This post will be updated as new reports come in; check back in for key campaign finance reports. See the bottom of the post for the timing on the updates.
Senate
In the Senate, one seat to watch is the one held by Ted Barela, R-Estancia. Particularly because this is the seat where Phil Griego, D-San Jose, resigned amid ethics violations and was replaced by the former mayor of Estancia by Gov. Susana Martinez.
Liz Stefanics, who held the seat before Griego, announced she is running. She raised a hair over $10,000 since announcing her candidacy on September 9. Of these, all but two donations were less than $1,000; the two donations of exactly $1,000 came from retired Earl Potter of Santa Fe and Betty Chern-Hughes, a nurse practitioner from Dallas. Former State Rep. Rick Miera donated $500.
Barela raised $6,300 according to his report. Of that, $2,500 came from Mountain States Constructors and $1,000 from Stuart Ingle’s campaign committee.
Phil Griego did not raise any money but spent $6,500. This includes $1,500 that went to Girego for expenditures for constituent meetings in August. Griego resigned in March.
In a crucial Senate seat, Diego Espinoza got off to a big start in his attempt to unseat incumbent John Sapien, D-Corrales, with $22,330. His donations included $3,000 from New Mexico Forward PAC, which has been active in attempts to elect Republicans, and $2,500 from former gubernatorial and Senate candidate Allen Weh. Espinoza was Weh’s campaign manager. Steven Maestas donated $5,000 with half earmarked for the general election. Espinoza’s total was aided by $4,000 in a loan from himself to his campaign.
Sapien, meanwhile, raised $9,975. Of that, $5,400 came from the Committee on Individual Responsibility, the political action committee of the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association. AFT New Mexico, a teachers union, donated $1,000.
Sapien spent over $8,000. Of that, the largest expenditure was $2,500 for a consultant.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, raised $40,000. This includes $5,000 from the NM Majority Floor Leader Fund, $2,500 from former Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez (who just happens to be brothers with the majority leader) and $5,000 from the Pueblo of Isleta. Sanchez spent $11,676.55, including a $1,000 donation to the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, raised $7,510.43. Of that, $2,000 came from businessman Drew Setter.
State House
House Majority Leader Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, hauled in over $215,000 according to his report. The money comes from other candidates’ campaign committees (Mark Moores’ committee with $5,000), PACs (the Committee on Individual Responsibility with $5,400) and more. It’s good the be Majority Leader. Gentry also spent over $17,000, including $5,000 for retainer on legal fees to the Law Offices of Paul Kennedy and $1,000 to the Cancer Foundation of New Mexico.
Gentry’s opposite, House Minority Leader Brian Egolf, did not raise nearly as much. HE raised $22,500 in the period. Of that, $5,400 came from UFCW Local Union #1564, and another $4,000 from the New Mexico Defense Fund PAC. That’s a PAC founded by Egolf. Egolf spent $7,394.87, including $2,846.78 in reimbursements to Egolf for technology purchases.
In District 23, Daymon Ely of Corrales is running and raised $33,850 to take on incumbent Paul Pacheco, R-Albuquerque. His funding includes $5,400 from the Committee on Individual Responsibility. Nearly all of the donations to Ely came from those who listed their occupation as attorneys.
Pacheco himself raised $11,125 (and has over $50,000 cash on hand). The only donation in four figures was $1,000 from Speaker of the House Don Tripp, R-Socorro. Gentry’s political committee chipped in $500.
Statewide
If Maggie Toulouse Oliver is preparing for a possible 2016 Secretary of State election, her fundraising isn’t showing it; she raised just $2,753.58 in the period. Four of her donations were of $500. She spent $9,043.03, $3,000 of which went as a donation to MaggiePAC, her political action committee.
Of course, that was more than others who lost in 2014. Gary King raise no money and spent $594.50, all on bank fees to Wells Fargo Bank.
Attorney General Hector Balderas raised over $77,000 during the period despite not facing voters again until 2018. One donation comes from W.B. Richardson LLC; that is a limited liability company for BIll RIchardson. The former governor’s occupation is listed as Consultant/Professional Speaker.
State Auditor Tim Keller, like Balderas a frequent target of attacks from political opponents, raised $1,463.73 and spent $12,284.55. Most, $9425, went to YPO New Mexico.
Updates:
4:36 p.m.: Added information about Nate Gentry’s report.
4:42 p.m.: Added information about Brian Egolf’s report.
4:51 p.m.: Added information about the campaign finance reports of Michael Sanchez and Stuart Ingle.
4:56 p.m.: Added information about Phil Griego’s report.
5:06 p.m.: Added information about the reports for Paul Pacheco and Daymon Ely.
5:20 p.m.: Added information about Ted Barela’s report.
Correction: This originally identified Daymon Ely as Ely Daymon. We regret the error.
