SANTA FE — Public Regulation Commissioner Ben Ray Lujan has made it official: He's running for the northern New Mexico congressional seat being vacated by Tom Udall.
Lujan, the son of politically powerful House Speaker Ben Lujan, is the highest-profile Democrat to enter the 3rd District race.
Lujan, 35, was elected to the five-member utility regulatory panel in 2004 and has been its chairman since he took his seat in 2005.
Commission Vice Chairman Jason Marks said in introductory remarks that Lujan had "turned around a divided and disrespected commission.''
Surrounded by family members and speaking to a packed Capitol rotunda Friday, Lujan sounded familiar Democratic themes, criticizing the Bush administration on Iraq and pledging to "do everything possible to bring this war to an immediate end.''
The billions being spent there should be used for health care, education and jobs at home, he said, citing his support for universal health care coverage and for scrapping the No Child Left Behind law.
The nation's dependence on foreign oil must be reduced and the federal government should aggressively tackle global warming, he also said.
Lujan touted his family's strong union ties — the elder Lujan was an iron worker — and his support of organized labor.
His eyes welling with tears at nearly every reference to his family, the candidate told the crowd sprinkled with aunts, uncles and cousins that he counted on them not only to get him elected but keep him close to his roots.
"You hold me accountable, and that's how I know I'll get the job done,'' he said.
Udall, a Democrat, is leaving the U.S. House to run for the U.S. Senate seat of Republican Pete Domenici, who is retiring.
Other Democrats seeking Udall's spot include Santa Fe developer Don Wiviott and Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya. Bennie Shendo Jr., who just resigned as secretary of the Department of Indian Affairs, has also said he plans to run.
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