On Lobby Day 2013, Albuquerque Bread Members Will Meet With...

Imagine you're on Capitol Hill for Lobby Day in June 2013 after spending several exciting days at the National Gathering.  You have been asked to set up an appointment with your member of the US House of Representatives.  You traveled from Albuquerque and you're anxious to see an aide to your congressperson or the representative herself....Then you remember that Bread members in Albuquerque actually met with your new representative a while back.  Perhaps you were part of the delegation that had a nice dialogue with Michelle Lujan Grisham and/or Janice-Arnold Jones last November  about Bread for the World, hunger issues, and The Circle of Protection.  Having that relationship with your congressperson, the Lobby Day conversation comes naturally.....

Michelle Lujan Grisham won the Democratic primary last night in a hard-fought battle with Eric Griego and Marty Chavez (and we also met with them last November).  Janice Arnold-Jones got the Republican nomination by default after Dan Lewis dropped out (and we met with both him and Ms. Arnold Jones), and Gary Smith was disqualified.

So,either Michelle Lujan  Grisham or Janice-Arnold Jones is going to be representing the New Mexico First Congressional District in November. 

Rev. Donna McNiel, Janice Arnold-Jones, Carlos Navarro, Ellen Buelow, Ester Griego

Mary Quinalty, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Rene Ronquillo

The New Mexico Senate Race

Bread members from New Mexico are also likely to have appointments with aides to Reps. Ben Ray Lujan and Steve Pearce, since both are heavily favored to win in November.  Neither had opposition in yesterday's primary.  

Moving over to the Senate, there will be a visit to the Hart Senate Office Building and Sen. Tom Udall's  offiice.  Sen. Udall is in the fourth year of his six-year term and was not on the ballot yesterday.

And then there is the other Senate seat, which will be occupied by a familiar face.  Both Democrat Martin Heinrich and Republican Heather Wilson have represented the First Congressional District, and each won yesterday's primary handily. Heinrich defeated State Auditor Hector Balderas and Wilson was the victor over Las Cruces businessman Greg Sowards.

So it's Heinrich vs. Wilson for the right to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

Debbie Ruiz, Rep. Martin Heinrich, Alicia Sedillo

Rep. Heather Wilson, Carlos Navarro

Okay, we got way ahead of ourselves.  We still have Lobby Day 2012, and I will be on Capitol Hill on June 12.  I have meetings at the offices of Sens. Udall and Bingaman and Rep. Heinrich.  We're also hoping to at least drop by the offices of Reps. Steve Pearce and Ben Ray Lujan.  Stay tuned.....