Heinrich's raises $267k in fourth quarter, Barela $113k

Corrected numbers

Democrat Martin Heinrich raised $267,372.63 in the final quarter of 2009. The total reflects $234,372.62 raised from individuals and political actions committees, plus $33,000 transferred to his campaign from other authorized committees.

The committee transfers include money split between Heinrich and Rep. Harry Teague from a fundraising trip made by Vice President Joe Biden, and a separate event with Rep. Polis in Colorado.

Heinrich received over $114,000 from PACS, with the balance from individual contributors.

He spent $80,454.83 during the reporting period, according to his report.

To date in the election cycle, Heinrich has raised $1.084 million, and he ended 2009 with $834,633.23 on hand.

Jon Barela, the Republican seeking to unseat Heinrich, raised $ 113,070 – with $3,500 coming from PACs – and spent $39,634.59, according to his report. To date in the election cycle, he’s raised $293,909.77, and he ended 2009 with $215,185.70 on hand.

Barlea said in a news release that he's pleased he collected more money from individual donors than his opponent in the last cycle and believes his campaign is "building momentum."

“We are thrilled to have the backing of such a large number of New Mexicans,” remarked Barela. “The vast majority of our contributions came from people who looked at the incumbent, compared my vision and background to his, and chose to support our campaign."

This report was corrected and includes the accurate numbers for the 2009 Year End reports.

DC Falls in Love with New Mexico Politicans

While freshman U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich is topping The Hill's 50 Most Beautiful People list two other New Mexican's have been selected as "Top Young Guns" by the NRCC.

Today in Washington, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) included two New Mexico Republicans— former Congressman Steve Pearce (CD2) and Albuquerque lawyer and businessman Jon Barela (CD1)—among the first 13 candidates in its New Young Guns program.

According to the NRCC, candidates included in the new program “must demonstrate a base of support, develop a media messaging plan for the race and show they are capable of raising enough money to get their message out.”

But they'll need silver bullets to unseat the freshman representatives in New Mexico's 1st and 2nd congressional districts in next year's congressional races.

Matt Reichbach over at NMFBIHOP reports:

Just four of the 24 Republican challengers in the NRCC's Young Guns program in 2008 successfully won office.

Barela Announces G.O.P Primary Bid

Albuquerque businessman and former chairman of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Jon Barela announced he'll campaign for the 1st Congressional District bid in the republican primary next year. He made his announcement this morning at DRB Electric company on 2nd Street in Albuquerque's South Valley.

Barela, a former APS Board member, and GOP Party official, is the first candidate to announce he'll try to oust first-term Representative Martin Heinrich, who easily captured the seat in 2008.

Fellow Repbulican, State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones, had been considering the race, but is now leaning toward a 2010 gubernatorial bid.

UPDATED @ 5pm

At the announcement, Barlea said he's running for Congress because government spending is out of control.

The money to fund that blank check in Washington is coming out of the paychecks of New Mexico workers and costing us jobs right here at home Unchecked spending in Congress needs to stop.

Barela acknowledged that this will be a tough race, but believes his deep roots in the community will allow him to earn the crossover votes necessary to win this district. Underscoring that point, Barela was introduced at his announcement by a current Democratic ward chairman from the South Valley and former State Representative Robert Aragon. Aragon is also a current member of the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

In a campaign news release Aragon commented:

I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I’m a New Mexican first. I’m enthusiastically supporting Jon Barela, because I know he’s one of us and he’ll always put New Mexico first. And that’s more important than partisan politics.

Barela File Photo: Mark Bralley