Skip to content

New Mexico: Barela Launches 2010 Bid Against Heinrich

Jon Barela, an attorney, businessman and former vice chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party, formally announced late last week that he will challenge freshman Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) in 2010.

Barela plans to make profligate federal spending a key component of his campaign.

“Government spending is out of control and the money to fund that blank check in Washington is coming out of the paychecks of New Mexico workers and [is] costing us jobs right here at home,— Barela said in a statement.

Republicans are hoping to quickly take back the heavily Hispanic, Albuquerque-based 1st district, which flipped to the Democratic column last year for the first time since the 1960s. The district appears to be trending solidly in Democrats’ direction: Heinrich took 56 percent of the vote, and President Barack Obama won the district by 20 points.

If Barela wins the GOP nod — he may face a primary with Kevin Daniels, the owner of a funeral home chain — he would be the party’s first Hispanic nominee since 1988.

Barela has already hired Sara Lister as his campaign manager; she managed the campaign of Darren White, the 2008 Republican nominee.

Recent Stories

Federal judge orders pause on USAID administrative leave

Trump gives DOGE new marching orders as Japan’s Ishiba tries a little flattery

Graham unveils budget blueprint ahead of markup next week

‘It’s a dumb time’ — Congressional Hits and Misses

US ordered not to release list of FBI agents tied to Jan. 6 cases

Photos of the week ending February 7, 2025