Husband, wife running for Congress

KRQE TV

Updated: Aug 27, 2012 10:01 AM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) — An Albuquerque couple says they face an uphill battle this November election, as they prepare to take on big-name politicians in the race for U.S. House and Senate.

Bob Anderson, a political science professor and Central New Mexico University, is running against Democratic Congressman Martin Heinrich and Republican former Congresswoman Heather Wilson to replace outgoing Sen. Jeff Bingaman. Anderson's wife, Jeanne Pahls, also a teacher in Albuquerque, is running against Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham and Republican Janice Arnold Jones in the first congressional district.

"It's a humble campaign. It's not big and glossy, that's for sure," said Pahls.

The couple said they declared their candidacy with the Secretary of State's office after the June 5th primary, where they became certified write-in candidates.

Anderson said he was planning on running for Senate, but Pahls said she was inspired to run after the nationwide "Occupy" movement.

"Hundreds of thousands, thousands of people could be non-violently begging for a different approach," said Pahls.

The duo said their views are different from the mainstream. For one, they both agree it's necessary to de-fund the state's national labs.

"This whole high-tech mecca of high salaries for some people that will trickle down to the rest of the state is a failed strategy," said Anderson.

"That money needs to go towards building a better education system and making an investment in the future of the young people in this state."

The couple also wants a single-payer healthcare system, where insurance would be paid for and provided by the government, not private companies.

"S omeone has to stand up and say it's not working and we have to go down a different road ," said Anderson.

According to the couple, it's been more than thirty years since a write-in congressional candidate won an election. Republican Joe Skeen won his race in the second congressional district in 1980.

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