Rep. Thomas Garcia Planning Run for State Senate

Rep. Thomas Garcia

From daily-times.com -State Rep. Thomas Garcia said today he is inclined to run for the state Senate, and likely will challenge fellow Democrat Pete Campos in the June primary election. Garcia said in an interview that he had taken out petitions for both House and Senate seats, but was leaning toward the Senate race. He has until Tuesday's filing deadline to decide. Garcia, of Ocate, would have to run against fellow Democrat Nick Salazar if he tried to stay in the House of Representatives.  Redistricting has thrown Garcia and Salazar into the same House district. Garcia, 41, originally joined the House of Representatives in 2006 as an appointee of then-governor Bill Richardson. Garcia said he committed to the people in his five-county northern New Mexico district that he would represent them for 10 years.  With redistricting, Garcia said, the Senate district that Campos represents more closely resembles the area he originally committed to serve. Running against Campos could be the more difficult race for Garcia.  Campos, 58, is a community college president from Las Vegas. He has been a senator since 1991.  Salazar is 82 years old and would have to campaign in a redrawn district that stretches to the Colorado border.  More News New Mexico

Rep. Thomas Garcia Planning Run for State Senate