Susan Martinez

Many first-time hopefuls for statewide office at least go through the formality of setting up an “exploratory” committee before officially announcing their candidacies.

Not Republican Susana Martinez , the district attorney in New Mexico’s Do’a Ana County. She launched her campaign in her state’s 2010 open-seat race for governor on Friday without going through an in-between stage.  

“I’m ready to get to work,” she said Friday.  

Martinez has a tough road ahead in the contest to succeed two-term Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson , who cannot seek re-election under the state’s term-limit law.