New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District, currently held by a 1st-term Democrat has just added a pledge signer to the mix. Republican Jon Barela just made himself a signatory on the ATR Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Cook Political Report classifies the seat as a D+5 on the PVI index. This could certainly be a competitive race in the 2010 Mid-term elections, and there is now at least one pledge signer in the contest. The district had been previously carried by Republican Heather Wilson who left the Congress to pursue a Senate run in 2008.

As a pledge signer, Mr. Barela has made a commitment to the taxpayers in New Mexico that he will fight to ensure that their taxes are not increased. The incumbent in the race, Congressman Martin Heinrich, is not a current pledge-signer. We here at ATR encourage Rep. Heinrich and all candidates for Federal office to follow suit and pledge to the taxpayers that they will do their part in fighting on behalf of the interests of those who elect them.

To see ATR’s official release on Jon Barela, click here