A former state senator from Albuquerque is trying for a political comeback as an independent candidate for the Legislature. Former Republican Sen. Joseph Carraro filed Tuesday to run against Republican Sen. John Ryan of Albuquerque in the November general election.
Carraro said he switched from being a Republican in 2008 after losing the party's nomination for the 1st Congressional District. Ryan drew no Democratic opponent this year and would have been unopposed in the general election if Carraro hadn't filed as a candidate.
Carraro served in the Senate in 1985 to 1988 and from 1993 to 2008. Ryan is running in a reconfigured district that includes portions of Albuquerque's west side that used to be Carraro's former district.
Tuesday was the filing deadline for minor party and independent candidates.