ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Claire Chase, an oil executive and Republican candidate for a critical U.S. House race in New Mexico, is reporting a fundraising surge just days into her candidacy. Chase’s campaign reported Tuesday she has raised $510,790 in 35 days. That amount is more than former state lawmaker and fellow GOP opponent Yvette Herrell raised during the entire …

Although rumors of her running for Congress kept coming up throughout the New Mexico political playing field for several months, it wasn’t until last month that Claire Chase decided to make the push. Today, Chase announced her intention to run as a Republican for the New Mexico Representative U.S. District 2 position. Democrat Xochitl Torres Small won the district in …