Udall holds off Weh to maintain U.S. Senate seat

In a race that was tighter than expected, incumbent U.S. Sen. Tom Udall won re-election over his Republican challenger Allen Weh. 

Weh had gained steam over the last few weeks of the campaign, but found himself on the losing end of a 55-45 contest, according to figures available at press time..

Udall accepted victory in the Coral Ballroom at the DoubleTree Hotel in Albuquerque. 

“Let me thank New Mexico tonight. What a night.” Udall said. “I’m very, very grateful for all of the hard work.”

Weh thanked his supporters at his campaign headquarters in Albuquerque. With his family by his side, he asked supporters to remain positive despite the outcome.

“Tomorrow I get up and the glass is still half full,” he said. ”I think we all want to have the same approach, we all want to get up and continue to strive and make this country better because that’s why we’re doing this.”

Late last week, the two sparred in a pair of long-anticipated debates. The candidates both ran on a platform rooted in foreign policy, immigration, veteran affairs, and health care. Udall had a strong backing from women and minority voters.

Udall has been a public servant in New Mexico for 16 years. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate for New Mexico in 2009. He began his political career as attorney general in 1990 and re-elected in 1994. Udall was also elected to represent the Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998.

Weh lost in the gubernatorial primary to Susana Martinez in 2012. He also served as a member of the Republican National Committee from New Mexico. Currently Weh is a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.). He owns and operates CSI Aviation in Albuquerque.

Michael Burt and Jozelyn Escobedo are journalism students in the Communication and Journalism Department. This story first appeared on the New Mexico News Port.