New Mexico GOP US Rep. Pearce wins re-election

Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce has fended off a feisty attack from Democrat Roxanne “Rocky” Lara to keep his seat in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District.

Despite attacks by immigrant rights’ groups and others, Pearce has remained popular among constituents in the district, which covers a large swath of southeastern New Mexico, including some of the state’s most productive oil and gas wells.

Pearce, a Vietnam veteran and former state lawmaker, held the congressional seat from 2003 to 2009 before being elected again in 2011.

Pearce has been critical of big government, but a barrage of television advertisements by Lara in the remaining weeks of the campaign targeted him over cuts to Medicare.

Lara’s effort to unseat Pearce had help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.