NM governor raises about $372,000 for re-election

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) -- Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has stockpiled nearly $1.5 million for her re-election campaign next year, which is far more than declared Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gary King, according to fundraising disclosures filed Monday.

The first-term governor collected $371,677 for her campaign from October through the beginning of April.

King's campaign raised $91,022 during the same period.

Martinez's campaign reported a cash balance of nearly $1.5 million and King had $102,736 cash on hand.

King, a two-term attorney general, said last year that he's running for the Democratic nomination for governor. He is the son of the late Bruce King, New Mexico's longest-serving governor.

Top donors to Martinez were Artesia oilman Peyton Yates and his wife, Linda, who gave a combined $20,000. Skilled Healthcare, a California company that provides support services for long-term care homes in New Mexico, contributed $10,000.

Lawyers were a top source of money for King. A Dallas law firm, Baron & Budd, contributed $10,000 to King's campaign. A New York law firm, Labaton Sucharow, contributed $4,750 to King, and its chairman, Lawrence Sucharow, gave $4,125. The firm has represented New Mexico pension and investment agencies in securities lawsuits.

Martinez's campaign reported spending $118,633 since last fall, including about $56,000 on consulting.

King spent $89,278, with about 70 percent of that for fundraising.

State Auditor Hector Balderas reported raising $240,514 in an exploratory committee for a campaign for attorney general. Balderas has not formally announced his candidacy, however. His campaign spent $2,726.

The Dallas law firm Baron & Budd gave $10,400 to Balderas.

The governor's political action committee, Susana PAC, reported raising $26,519 since October and has $652 on hand. It spent $47,193, with nearly three-fifths of that going to a firm run by the governor's top political adviser.