Labor unions have contributed $180,000 to a Democratic-leaning political committee that was a top spender in New Mexico legislative races in 2012.
Campaign finance reports show Patriot Majority New Mexico received $100,000 from an American Federation of Teachers' political committee last month and $80,000 from a committee of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in May.
The group spent about $61,000 last month for research by a Denver-based firm and nearly $19,000 for "strategic services" by a consulting firm formed by David Contarino, who was former Gov. Bill Richardson's chief of staff. Contarino lives in Louisville, Kentucky.
Patriot Majority spent almost $1.4 million on races in 2012. The group can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to independently advocate the election or defeat of candidates.
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