CD1: Dems tout own strengths
The four-way contest for the Democratic nomination in the Albuquerque-based 1st Congressional District features four very different styles
NMI Managing Editor David Alire Garcia interviewed the candidates for KNME’s New Mexico In Focus.
In the second segment of a series, the four Democrats vying for the right to go on to the general election in the Albuquerque-based First Congressional District all emphasized their own qualifications.
The candidates’ joint appearance on KNME’s New Mexico In Focus marked the first televised forum of the campaign so far. Former Albuquerque City Council President Martin Heinrich touted his ability to work “with people of all political stripes,” adding that he’s “a strong campaigner.” Michelle Lujan-Grisham, an-ex secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health, said her years in state government make her “uniquely qualified” to serve in Congress. Rebecca Vigil-Giron, elected three times as secretary of state, said she represents “the heart and soul of New Mexico.” Meanwhile, lesser-known Albuquerque attorney Robert Pidcock emphasized that he’s a veteran.
On the fact check watch, Vigil-Giron claimed that former U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan, an Albuquerque Republican as well as Lujan-Grisham’s cousin, had never represented CD1 in Congress. In fact, Lujan represented New Mexico’s “old” CD1 from 1968 to 1982 – which included all of northern New Mexico and Bernalillo County. He then went on to win re-election from a newly configured CD1 in 1982 (the year the state gained a third congressional district) which over the years has changed very little.
On the whole, the candidates expressed similar views on the issues, but offered very different styles and personalities.
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