Nella Domenici, aiming to become the first Republican to win a New Mexico Senate election in over two decades, is breaking records. Her campaign reports a staggering $2.9 million raised during the second quarter of 2024, surpassing any other Senate candidate in the state’s history. This significant fundraising effort, encompassing both Domenici’s Senate campaign and associated joint fundraising committees, was announced to Fox News on Friday.
The challenge for Domenici is significant. It has been 22 years since a Republican won in New Mexico, a state that has leaned blue in recent years. Her father, the last GOP senator from New Mexico, Pete Domenici, was re-elected to a sixth term in 2002. Now, Nella Domenici is determined to end the Republican losing streak.
“The momentum is growing, the movement is building, and our state is ready for new leadership,” said Domenici in a statement. “New Mexico is at a tipping point and I’m grateful to all of those who are rallying behind our campaign to demand more for our state and our nation.” This fundraising success is more than double the $1.25 million she secured in the first quarter of 2024. Domenici’s campaign enters July with over $2 million in cash on hand.
Domenici is leveraging her powerful political brand and name recognition in New Mexico as she takes on Democrat Sen. Martin Heinrich, who is seeking a third term in November. While Heinrich raised $1.5 million in the first quarter, his second-quarter fundraising figures are yet to be announced.
Domenici’s resume boasts decades of experience in the finance industry at firms like Bridgewater Associates, Credit Suisse, and Citadel Investment Group.
Though New Mexico has shifted left and is no longer considered a swing state, the GOP sees an opportunity to expand their influence in the wake of President Biden’s recent struggles. Biden’s performance in a recent debate against former President Trump fueled calls for him to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, and internal Democrat polling conducted after the debate suggests a tightening political landscape in New Mexico.
With the potential for change, Domenici’s record-breaking fundraising and her powerful family legacy offer a formidable challenge to Heinrich. The race in New Mexico is expected to be closely watched as a potential indicator of the national political climate.
