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SANTA FE – Alexis Johnson and Harry Montoya, two Republicans who have previously filed paperwork to run for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House, made formal announcements of their candidacies this week.

In a news release. Johnson, who lives in Santa Fe and is a graduate of New Mexico Tech, describes herself as a rancher, engineering consultant, social conservative and pro-life mother who was raised in southeastern New Mexico.

She said she has worked in environmental engineering as a liaison in the Permian Basin, helping private business and government entities reach solutions to complex technical and social challenges.” If elected, she will “work to ensure that federal legislation is enacted which will protect, maintain, and maximize the economic benefit of the oil and gas industry in N.M. and (the) greater U.S, responsibly,” her statement says.

On Friday, she posted on her Facebook page, “New Mexico Stands with Trump! End biased impeachment process, let the voters decide! NM Democrats are out of touch! Listen to NM Voters!”

Montoya, as a Democrat in the past, was appointed and then won election to the Pojoaque School Board and was elected to two terms the Santa Fe County Commission. He ran for the 3rd District House seat in both 2008 and 2012 but lost both times to Ben Ray Luján, who is leaving the seat to run for U.S. Senate next year. Montoya, a drug treatment counselor, also ran unsuccessfully in 2010 for the Democratic nomination for state land commissioner.

His news release says he has been “pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-religious freedom his entire life” but that “the Democratic Party has radically changed” and he’s now a “proud Republican.”

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“I’m running for Congress because I believe we need a conservative champion fighting for our future generations,” Montoya said. “I grew up here, I was educated here, and I became a counselor here to help New Mexicans suffering from addiction. Our state is truly at a crossroads — do we let national Democrats push a radical agenda, or do we fight for a principled future for our state?”

Other Republicans who have filed declarations of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission are Audra Lee Brown of Portales, Karen Bedonie of Farmington, Anastacia Golden Morpor of Santa Fe and Ben Bateman of White Rock.

Eight Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination. The 3rd District, which also includes Rio Rancho, Gallup, Taos, Española, Las Vegas and Raton, is considered a Democratic stronghold.