Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley (D), running for the 2nd district seat being vacated by Rep. Steve Pearce (R), has announced some new endorsements as he seeks the upper hand in the increasingly competitive Democratic primary contest.

Backing McCamley are Doña Ana County Commissioner Dolores Saldaña-Caviness, Eddy County Commissioner Tony Hernandez and Carlsbad City Councilmen Manny Anaya and Jeff Diamond. Previously, McCamley was endorsed by District 5 Public Regulation Commissioner Sandy Jones, state Reps. Antonio Lujan, Andy Nuñez and Nate Cote, and the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council.

“I’m thrilled and grateful to receive this show of support,” McCamley said in a statement.

Pearce is retiring from the southern New Mexico 2nd district seat to run for Senate. In the Democratic primary, McCamley is facing state Rep. Joe Cervantes, who formally entered the race on Monday evening; minister and 2006 nominee Al Kissling; and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague. Others might still enter the race, though state Rep. Joe Campos (D), who announced his candidacy earlier this month, dropped out at the end of last week.

On the Republican side, the lone candidate so far is wealthy restaurateur Ed Tinsley.
— David M. Drucker