Democrat staying in state treasurer's race
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The secretary of state's office says former Bernalillo County Treasurer Patrick Padilla has secured a place on the June primary ballot as a Democratic candidate for state treasurer.
Padilla turned in additional nominating petition signatures Tuesday to continue his candidacy after failing to win a place on the ballot at the Democratic pre-primary nominating convention earlier this month.
Candidates with less than 20 percent support of convention delegates are off the ballot unless they submit a certain number of petition signatures.
In the 3rd Congressional District, Democrat Robert Blanch has taken the steps to remain a challenger against incumbent Ben Ray Lujan.
Padilla, former Sen. Tim Eichenberg and former state Democratic Party chairman John Wertheim are seeking the party's nomination for treasurer. Republican Rick Lopez is unopposed in the primary.