Two candidates with ties to organizations funded by or concerned with the Los Alamos National Laboratory won primary elections Tuesday night that effectively assure them seats in the New Mexico state House of Representatives, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico secretary of state.
Andrea Romero, former executive director of the local interest group Regional Coalition of Los Alamos Communities, beat incumbent Democrat Carl Trujillo by more than 5 percentage points in a primary election for the 46th State District.
Susan Herrera, former CEO of the nonprofit educational advocacy group the LANL Foundation, trounced incumbent Debbie Rodella by more than 10 percentage points in the primary for the 41st State District. One of the LANL Foundation’s largest donors is lab prime contractor Los Alamos National Security.
Both women will run unopposed in the Nov. 6 general election. New Mexico’s bicameral state house leans heavily Democratic.
Romero came under fire for using public money to buy baseball tickets and alcoholic drinks during lobbying trips to Washington, D.C. Her contract with the Regional Coalition of Los Alamos Communities expired and was not renewed during her primary campaign this year.
