Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez dropped out of the Democratic Senate primary late last week, leaving 3rd district Rep. Tom Udall as the lone Democrat in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Pete Domenici (R).

Meanwhile, Republicans must still sort through a competitive primary before turning their attention to Udall. Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce are running in the GOP Senate primary.

Chávez had entered the Senate race with a flourish. But once Udall also jumped in, polls showed he would handily beat the Albuquerque mayor in the Democratic primary. Chávez, whose term in city hall ends in 2009, now must contemplate his political future — which could include a run for the 1st district seat that Wilson is vacating.

— David M. Drucker