Report: Dem Tom Udall Reconsidering New Mexico Senate Race
Congressman Tom Udall (D-NM) might just end up running for the Senate, after all. The Albuquerque Journal reports that Udall, who previously took himself out of the running for the seat of retiring GOP Senator Pete Domenici, has informed party leaders that he's giving the race another look.
No firm decision has been made that he will enter, but he would easily become the favorite to win the seat in the general election, according to current polling. The current Democratic frontrunner, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, has had a much more lackluster performance against the possible Republican nominees.
Fun fact: Udall's family has a strong political presence out West. His cousin Mark is a Democratic Congressman from Colorado who is running for an open Senate seat, and their Republican cousin Gordon Smith is seeking re-election as a Senator from Oregon. It's thus possible that three cousins could end up winning three simultaneous Senate races, in three different states and from both parties.
Comments (18)
judyinnm wrote on November 1, 2007 1:40 PM:Please let that be true. Martin Chavez would be worse than useless. Udall would win the primary, and be unstoppable in the general; and his House seat is safely Democratic. And I don't see any way Heather's mud slinging could touch Tom.
margaret wrote on November 1, 2007 1:53 PM:Is he any relation to Mo Udall?
moondancer wrote on November 1, 2007 1:55 PM:His son I believe.
I agree Judy, he walks to victory. Nice if he does it.
Eric Kleefeld wrote on November 1, 2007 2:02 PM:Mark Udall is Mo Udall's son. Tom Udall is the son of Mo's brother, and Gordon Smith is the son of Mo's sister.
EricAZ wrote on November 1, 2007 2:07 PM:Actually, Tom is the son of former Secretary of the Interior Stu Udall, and a nephew to the late Az. Congressman Mo Udall. Mark is Mo's son.
hwc wrote on November 1, 2007 2:17 PM:This puts some pressure on Bill Richardson to fish or cut bait.
Anonymous wrote on November 1, 2007 2:21 PM:Run, Udall, Run!
Jason Shapiro wrote on November 1, 2007 2:24 PM:If Udall runs, and he should, he will win. Chavez is a sleaze and Richardson is a bigger sleaze. A Udall win will give New Mexico a Senatorial tag team of Bingaman and Udall, two of the more intelligent, progressive, and decent politicians around.
fred dodsworth wrote on November 1, 2007 2:29 PM:The Udalls have a strong, generational, family commitment to the environment. He'd be a great choice for Senator.
Delia wrote on November 1, 2007 2:42 PM:What went wrong with Gordon Smith's side of the family? Is it some secret family tragedy or what?
Dave wrote on November 1, 2007 2:57 PM:This is great news! Not only would Marty lose, but he sucks. Udall will win the Senate seat and the 3rd district seat will be filled by a Democrat, that's 1 seat gained and the focus can now be on picking up the house seats vacated by Wilson and Pearce who will both lose to Udall and leave their seats open. This will also take the pressure off Denish who can focus on the Guv race.
SocraticGadfly wrote on November 1, 2007 3:32 PM:HWC: Big Bill ain't running for the Senate seat, Udall or no Udall in the primary.
Daniel wrote on November 1, 2007 4:09 PM:A quick look at the first and only poll with Udall shows how much this race would favor Dems if he ran.
Honest John wrote on November 1, 2007 4:54 PM:Here's some more info:
http://haussamen.blogspot.com/2007/11/udall-will-reconsider-running-for.html
For the little it's worth, I sort of think I still prefer that Udall not run for Senate as I hate to think of losing him as my representative and worry (needlessly perhaps) that he won't survive the Wilson smear machine and so will end up out of office. 'Course, Tom doesn't often take my advice so lo que será, será ;-).
Arizona Guy wrote on November 1, 2007 7:10 PM:The Democratic Udalls and the Republican Udalls --
David K. Udall, who was the grandfather of Mo and Stewart Udall, was a Mormon polygamist. His children by one wife (including Levi Udall, the father of Mo and Stewart and grandfather of Mark and Tom) were Democrats. His children by the other wife (including Jesse Udall, the grandfather of Gordon Smith) were Republicans. Levi Udall, the Democrat, was a justice of the Arizona Supreme Court; when he died, his Republican half-brother Jesse was appointed to replace him.
There is an article on the Udall family connections, with a family tree, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udall_family
gwpriester wrote on November 1, 2007 9:22 PM:Udall is very popular in his district. He might stand a very good chance against Wilson who was deeply sullied by her part in the Eglesias matter.
demwinger wrote on November 2, 2007 8:34 AM:if he loves his state and his country he should run. no pressure though!
Meah Bottoms wrote on November 2, 2007 11:07 AM:If he is anything like Mo, New Mexico is very lucky.
