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Domenici Won't Seek Re-Election

By SHAILAGH MURRAY and CHRIS CILLIZZA, The Washington Post

Published: October 4, 2007

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans are bracing for another potentially costly 2008 retirement, with veteran Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., expected to announce today that he will not seek a seventh term.

The former Budget Committee chairman, second in seniority on the Republican side, has battled health problems in recent years. GOP leaders hoped he would follow through on plans to seek re-election to protect a seat that looks ripe for a Democratic takeover. Republican officials close to Domenici said the health concerns ultimately took precedence.

Until this week, Domenici, 75, appeared to be on a solid re-election track, raising campaign cash at a brisk pace.

In July, he challenged President Bush's war strategy, an unusual break for the loyal Republican that was interpreted as a political pivot. Although Domenici favored removing U.S. troops from combat, he voted against Democratic efforts to force an end to the conflict.

The most likely Republican candidates to seek Domenici's post are Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce. Potential Democratic candidates include Rep. Tom Udall, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and former state Attorney General Patricia Madrid.

The Democrats' dream candidate is Gov. Bill Richardson, but his advisers say he is not interested and is focused on the 2008 presidential race. Wealthy businessman Don Wiviott is in the race and has put several hundred thousand dollars of his money into the bid.

New Mexico has tilted Democratic in recent years, but Domenici was easily re-elected in 2002, with 65 percent of the vote. Last winter, he was caught up in a controversy over firings of U.S. attorneys by the Bush administration. One of nine fired prosecutors, David Iglesias of New Mexico, accused him of applying inappropriate pressure to bring indictments against Democrats on the eve of the 2006 elections.

Then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told the House and Senate Judiciary committees that Iglesias was ousted largely because of Domenici's diminished political support for him. The incident prompted an ongoing Senate Ethics Committee investigation of Domenici's actions.

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