Nella Domenici courts Hispanic and Latino voters with coalition, Al Hurricane Jr.'s support

Over 100 people crammed themselves into a room at Tomasita’s restaurant Thursday night meant to hold 50 or 60. They accepted drinks, food and Nella Domenici yard signs as Domenici launched her Latino and Hispanic coalition — part of her bid to unseat New Mexico’s senior senator, Democrat Martin Heinrich, and follow in the footsteps of her father, the long-serving Sen. Pete Domenici.

Standing in front of a fireplace, “Vamos Nella” signs, and framed by a pair of ristras, Al Hurricane Jr. endorsed Domenici for Senate during the launch of “Estamos con Nella.” It’s a coalition chaired by Hurricane and honorary chair Edward Lujan, who earlier this month was recognized with a New Mexico Humanitarian Award for advocating for the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Much of the room joined in as Hurricane sang a few lines of “Flor de las Flores,” near the beginning of his speech, before revealing to the crowd that he’s a registered Democrat.

“Don’t hold that against me,” he joked.

Hurricane told the Journal that he was a fan of the late Sen. Pete Domenici and feels Heinrich hasn’t done enough for the state’s Hispanic and Latino community.

“I really hate to say this, but we’re last always in education, and everything else,” Hurricane said. “But I want to see (Domenici) bring up New Mexico education.”

The event also featured a speech from Domenici’s daughter, Alessandra Domenici Powell, primarily given in Spanish, reminiscing about her grandfather and focusing on her mother’s connection to New Mexico’s Hispanic community.

“The fact that I speak Spanish is more than just a skill. It’s a testament to my mother’s dedication to the Hispanic and Latino communities in New Mexico and our country,” Domenici Powell said.

Domenici’s speech focused on the importance of preserving culture and bringing together diverse groups of people.

“I think in New Mexico, the Hispanic population is such a big part of the state, and it’s such an important part of the state, and to be able to develop really good, deep, fundamental, trusting relationships with the population, and understand their issues and their concerns and be able to partner with them is really what I want to be able to do,” Domenici told the Journal.

The Hill predicts that Heinrich has a 92% chance of winning the Senate race, and a survey from Emerson College Polling/The Hill released in August showed Heinrich with a strong lead.

According to June campaign finance reports, Heinrich’s campaign has raised $10.1 million and has $4.8 million cash on hand, while Domenici, who launched her campaign in January, has raised $3.6 million and has $2.1 million cash on hand.