By KRWG News
New Mexico – The New Mexico Republican Party has hired the daughter of Wyoming's GOP congresswoman as its communications director.
GOP State Chairman Monty Newman said Friday that Annaliese Wiederspahn will bring a "keen understanding of Western issues" to her job.
Wiederspahn's mother is U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, who was elected in 2008 and re-elected last year. Wiederspahn worked on Lummis' statewide congressional campaigns. Wyoming has one congressional seat.
With a presidential election looming next year, New Mexico is again expected to be a swing state in the race. There's also an open U.S. Senate seat on the ballot because Democratic incumbent Jeff Bingaman is retiring. The state's three congressional seats and all 112 members of the Legislature are up for election.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.