Rep. Deb Haaland has campaigned for Sen. Elizabeth Warren in Iowa and New Hampshire as one of the national co-chairs of Warren’s presidential campaign.
She told the Journal she hasn’t given up hope that Warren could win the Democratic nomination despite a surge by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in early primary and caucus states.
“The nomination process is far from over,” Haaland said last week. “The vast majority of delegates still have not been awarded. I’m whole heart in support of Elizabeth Warren. I’m working hard for her. I love her ideals.”
The first-term Democrat was back on the campaign trail for Warren last week, stumping for Super Tuesday votes in Colorado. Haaland believes momentum has shifted Warren’s way after her debate performance in Las Vegas on the eve of the Nevada caucus.
“She went to a rally in Seattle after the debate and had a tremendous amount of support,” Haaland said. “She also received a lot of money in donations after the debate.”
HAALAND LEARNS OF EDUCATION NEEDS: Haaland hosted an education roundtable Monday at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School in Albuquerque with teachers, school counselors, principals and administrators.
She said educators discussed their concern about a loss of federal funding in different areas.
“They stressed a need for more Title I funding (assistance for local educational agencies and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families),” she said. “They want more funding for counselors. They feel everything is on the teachers’ shoulders right now.”
Haaland said the Trump administration’s effort to cut the number of people on the federal food stamp program and its impact on New Mexico students was also discussed.
“This roundtable gave me the opportunity to listen to the folks who spend a lot of time with our kids and learn more about what students, teachers and schools in New Mexico need,” Haaland said. “I’ll be taking what I learned back to Washington, working on proposals that will create opportunities for the future.”
CHASE, HERRELL NAMED ‘YOUNG GUNS’: The National Republican Congressional Committee doesn’t appear to be taking sides in the heated battle for the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District race for the seat held by Democrat Xochitl Torres Small.
The NRCC named both Roswell oil and gas executive Claire Chase and former state Rep. Yvette Herrell as contenders in its Young Guns program.
“These hardworking candidates have proven their ability to run strong, competitive campaign operations,” House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a news release. “We’re going to ensure these contenders are victorious in November by forcing their Democratic opponents to own their party’s radical socialist agenda.”
The campaigns of both candidates have locked horns over questions of loyalty to President Donald Trump and have attacked each other in campaign ads.
State Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce didn’t voice too much concern about the clashes between the campaigns, which also includes Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys. “The most important thing for us is to get behind the eventual nominee,” Pearce said in a recent interview with the Journal.
He said he is not surprised with the amount of money pouring into the district race, which is the most expensive congressional race in New Mexico. The candidates have raised more than $4.2 million, and outside groups have been spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to influence the race, which is one of the most watched in the country.
“That’s the way it was when I held the seat,” Pearce said. “I always had to raise more than $1 million. I was always a target.”
Scott Turner: sturner@abqjournal.com
