New Mexico land commissioner announces run for Congress

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Republican New Mexico State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn has announced he will run for election to Congress for New Mexico's southern district instead of seeking a second term in state office. Dunn said Tuesday that he hopes to win the GOP nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, who is running for governor in 2018. Republican state Rep. Yvette Harrell of Alamogordo also is seeking the GOP nomination. Dunn was elected in 2014 to lead a state agency that oversees state trust lands spanning 14,000 square miles (36,000 square kilometers) that help fund schools, universities, hospitals and other public institutions. Two Democrats already are aggressively vying for that job. Dunn unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for the southern congressional district in 2008, when Pearce left to run unsuccessfully for Senate.