Domenici’s daughter says she’ll run for U.S. Senate

Fifteen years after her venerated father left Congress, a daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici has declared herself a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, a seat now held by Democrat Martin Heinrich.

This is the first run for public office by Nella L. Domenici, 63, who lives in Santa Fe, after years of climbing the ladder in the world of finance and business.

She filed a statement of candidacy Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.

“I am uniquely prepared and ready to fight for a dramatically improved New Mexican economy,” she said in a news release. “My professional experience and education enables me to deeply understand inflation, taxation, setting and managing huge budgets and creating incentives and benefits that serve employees, and attract new businesses and entrepreneurs.”

The release stated that Nella Domenici “began her career at the bottom and worked her way up through the complex finance world, eventually serving as CFO for one of the world’s largest, most successful investment firms.”

She served as chief financial officer and member of the operating committee at Bridgewater, a hedge fund with more than $160 billion in assets under management. She was responsible for, among other things, financial planning and analysis, revenue management, corporate finance, strategic initiatives and technology investment.

According to news reports, from 2012 to 2015, Domenici was a strategic adviser to Bridgewater’s Management Committee, a role in which she led the evolution of the firm’s senior leadership organization structure. Prior to that, she held various senior strategic positions with Citadel Investment Group, from 2004 to 2005, Credit Suisse, from 1998 to 2004, and The Monitor Consulting Group, from 1996 to 1998.

But her announcement stressed her family and community ties.

“New Mexico is my home. I was born in Albuquerque and lived for most of my childhood in a home near the intersection of Lomas and Monroe with my seven brothers, sisters, and parents — Pete and Nancy Domenici,” she said. “I began my education at Our Lady of Fatima, where I learned the values I hold today. I am the devoted mother of two, step-mom of four, and the wife of a Navy veteran. My family’s roots run deep in New Mexico and it is here that I have always returned. My husband Pat and I enjoy our family home in New Mexico that we have owned for nearly twenty years.”

Her father, who died in 2017 at the age of 85, was the longest-tenured U.S. senator in New Mexico history before he retired in 2009, and he played key roles in bipartisan negotiation and consensus-building during his 38 years representing New Mexico in Congress as a Republican.

“Like my father and mother, I have been a warrior for those who most need an advocate: for women competing in academics or business, for families dealing with mental illness, and for those without access to quality health care or education,” she said.

She is one of Domenici’s six daughters.

“New Mexico is blessed with abundant natural resources, cultural diversity, rich traditions, hard-working people, and leading national laboratories and military installations,” she said in her statement. “But sadly, our leaders in Washington and Santa Fe have failed us. The cost of living is up, we have a crime and drug crisis, the border is wide open, and our public education system is leaving our kids behind.

“I’m in this fight to win, which is why my husband and I are dedicating substantial resources, effort, and time to this race. We can and must do better. That’s why I’m running for the United States Senate.”

Her news release noted she waited tables to help pay for her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, and worked her way through night school at Georgetown Law while holding down a full-time job. She then paid her way at Harvard Business School, graduating as a Baker Scholar, top 5% of the class, while nine months pregnant.

In her career, she advised, invested in, grew and led many companies, and served on public company boards, her announcement stated. She has worked in various industries, such as health care, AI, food service, lodging, commercial real estate, mortgage lending, and consumer products. The companies have ranged from small family-owned businesses to rapidly growing venture-backed enterprises to a Fortune 200 company. Several of these have been headquartered in New Mexico.

She also has served on the Board of One World Surgery, which provides access to quality surgical care globally and has been involved in major national efforts to support research and legislation related to mental illness. Additionally, Domenici served on the board of the International Folk Art Market, which focuses on economic opportunities for folk artists worldwide, particularly women in developing countries.

“After a period of diligent research and evaluation, it is clear that the political environment in New Mexico is favorable to Republicans,” she said in the statement. “Over 70% of voters believe the country is on the wrong track. There is massive dissatisfaction with the economy, our border, and the misguided policies from Washington that have made life more difficult for New Mexico families.”

Democratic Party of New Mexico chairwoman Jessica Velasquez called Nella Domenici an “East Coast elitist” in a news release issued Tuesday.

With former Bernalillo County sheriff Manny Gonzales Jr. III announcing his candidacy last week, the Senate Republican primary is “sure to be brutal,” Velasquez stated. She noted that Democrats have won every U.S. Senate race in New Mexico since 2006.

The winner of the June 4 primary faces Democratic incumbent Heinrich, who is seeking a third term.