Governor Donates $19K To Candidates

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The latest campaign finance reports show that Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's political action committee has contributed $19,000 to candidates for the Legislature and other offices in the past three weeks.

Susana PAC gave $14,000 to six candidates for the House and Senate. That included $2,500 to Albuquerque lawyer Chris Saucedo, who is running against another Republican for the party's nomination in House District 15.

The governor's PAC contributed $5,000 to Dona Ana County District Attorney Amy Orlando, who faces in a Democratic challenger in the general election. Martinez vacated the district attorney's position in becoming governor.

According to a campaign report filed Thursday, the governor's PAC had a cash balance of $171,000 earlier this week. The committee raised about $3,200 and spent nearly $106,000 in the past three weeks.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.