One Democratic lawmaker already says he’s planning to run to for State Auditor, now that Tim Keller won the race for Albuquerque mayor.
State Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park, confirmed to NM Political Report Tuesday night that he plans on entering the race. If Keller had lost the race, he would have been able to run for a second term.
Instead, Keller will become mayor on Dec. 1.
McCamley released a video announcing his candidacy—and praising mayor-elect Keller’s work as State Auditor—Wednesday morning.
“As auditor, I will make ethics and transparency a top priority,” McCamley said.
“The auditor should be a leader in giving people a government that they deserve and can be proud of,” he said.
Once Keller leaves the State Auditor’s Office to become mayor, Gov. Susana Martinez will be able to appoint a replacement to finish out his term. She can either appoint a placeholder who will serve out the term and not run for reelection, like when Secretary of State Dianna Duran resigned and Martinez chose Albuquerque City Councilor Brad Winter, or choose someone who will run for a full term in 2018.
So far, the governor’s office has not named her choice to replace Keller.
Robert Aragon, who lost a city council race on Tuesday, ran as a Republican against Keller in 2012 and lost.
Last week, McCamley told NM Political Report he was strongly considering the race when confirming he would not run for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District.
The big ticket race in 2018 in New Mexico will be the governor’s race. Four Democrats are vying for the nomination, while only one Republican has said he will run.
Update: Added information from McCamley’s announcement video.
