NM GOP raises twice as much money as Democrats

Lang is chairman of Covington Capital, a real estate company that's part of a joint venture in a New Mexico project with Ohio-based Forest City Enterprises. The companies are developing Mesa del Sol, a residential community and commercial project near the Albuquerque International Sunport. Forest City contributed $2,500 to the Democratic Party. Covington Nevada LLC, of which Lang is a manager, gave $2,500.

The GOP spent nearly $77,000 on mailings, which were related to state legislative campaigns, according to Shira Rawlinson, a party spokeswoman. Other expenditures included nearly $78,000 for polling.

On the day the GOP reported receiving the $75,000 from the Republican Governor's Association, the party gave $25,000 to the Republican Party of Hawaii. Two days later, the party transferred $7,500 to the Republican Party of Washington. Rawlinson said in a statement that party-to-party transfers and contributions were very common.

Although there's no race for governor in New Mexico this year, Rawlinson said, "2010 will be an important gubernatorial election and much of the work we do this year will impact that election."

Spending by the Democrats included $28,700 for election services involving the presidential preference caucus the party held in early February and about $22,000 for catering and lodging at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The state party paid for "delegation breakfasts for our delegates and their guests and provided hotel rooms for our sponsors," according to Josh Geise, Democratic Party executive director.