The fact that there's a contested Republican primary for Northern New Mexico's open congressional seat is a rare situation in this heavily Democratic district.

While six Democrats are vying for their party's nomination to replace Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., Republican voters in the June 3 primary will have a choice between Marco Gonzales, a Santa Fe lawyer who worked 10 years with retiring U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and Rio Rancho businessman Dan East.

A Republican victory in the November general election, however, would be a true upset in the 3rd Congressional District, which most believe is a safe seat for the Democrats.

Republican Bill Redmond managed to win an off-year special election in 1997 for the seat when Democrat Bill Richardson left to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. But Redmond was defeated by Udall a year later.

Most believe Redmond won in the low-turnout 1997 election because many Democrats were angry with candidate Eric Serna, who was nominated by Democratic Party leaders without holding a primary. Serna, a former state corporation commissioner, also had ethical baggage and was criticized for missing candidate forums.

Many Democrats apparently voted in protest for Green Party candidate Carol Miller.

Unsurprisingly, Gonzales has been endorsed by his old boss, Domenici.

But while Gonzales might have the edge with the GOP establishment, his answers to a recent New Mexican issues questionnaire shows that on some issues, East's views might be more in line with contemporary Republican thinking.

Unlike East, Gonzales said he would support a serious investigation into possible war profiteering in Iraq. Unlike East and a majority of Republicans in Congress, Gonzales said he wouldn't have voted for the 2005 bankruptcy bill, which made it harder for debtors to file for bankruptcy.

Gonzales said he'd support a massive national public works program to repair roads, bridges, dams and other infrastructure and help stimulate the economy. East said, "We have programs today where funding should be increased."

Miller, of Ojo Sarco, is hoping to run again for the congressional seat in the November general election, this time as an independent. But there's little evidence that the Democrats are anywhere near as divided this year as they were 11 years ago.

As an independent, Miller must submit nearly 6,000 valid signatures of registered voters by June 4, the day after New Mexico's primary election.

Santa Fe contractor Ron Simmons also is gathering petitions to get on the ballot as an independent.