NM-Sen: Former Rep Heather Wilson to Announce 2012 Senate Race

Former New Mexico congresswoman Heather Wilson will announce her Senate candidacy Monday, two Republicans inform POLITICO.

Wilson is expected to be the first official candidate in the race since five-term Democrat Sen. Jeff Bingaman announced his retirement on Feb. 18.

Her entry into the open seat contest hands Republicans a top shelf recruit in a contest the party believes it has a realistic shot at winning.

A former five term congresswoman, Wilson chose to run for the open seat of retiring Sen. Pete Domenici in 2008, but was upended in the primary by now Rep. Steve Pearce.

Pearce has been vocal about how his party should come together to select the proper “conservative candidate” to run for Bingaman’s seat in order to head off the divisiveness that aided Sen. Tom Udall three years ago.

But GOP insiders believe that Wilson’s more moderate profile makes her the most electable candidate in the field.  Highly respected on national security issues, Wilson also questioned the cost of the Medicare prescription drug law and wasn’t shy about criticizing then Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Rep. Steve Pearce and Lt. Governor John Sanchez are considering running against her in the GOP primary. Democrat Rep. Martin Heinrich and New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas are considering the race from the Democrat side.