Pearce Wins GOP Nomination for N.M. Senate Seat

Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) won last night the right to run in November for an open Senate seat, defeating a more experienced House colleague who had been handpicked by the man giving up the seat.

Pearce, a three-term congressman from the state's rural south, narrowly defeated Rep. Heather A. Wilson in yesterday's Republican primary. With 93 percent of precincts reporting, Pearce, a three-term congressman from southern New Mexico, led Wilson 51 to 49 percent.

Wilson, a moderate Republican, had proved herself a resilient fighter after six terms in an Albuquerque-area seat almost always on the Democratic Party's target list. She earned the blessing of retiring Sen. Pete V. Domenici to try to keep the swing state in the Republican column in November.

But Pearce's conservative credentials convinced Republican voters outside the New Mexico capital. He will run in November against Rep. Tom Udall (D), who was unopposed yesterday and leads Pearce handily in state polls.

In New Jersey, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, 84, easily beat back a primary challenge from Rep. Robert E. Andrews, who failed to convince Garden State Democrats that it was time to replace the Senate veteran with new blood.

New Jersey voters were not impressed. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Lautenberg led with 59 percent to Andrews's 35 percent.

-- Jonathan Weisman