Even though House Speaker Ben Luján as usual is running unopposed for his House District 46 seat in the upcoming general election, he has raised thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.

As is the custom for legislative leaders, a big portion of Luján's campaign dollars go to contributions to the campaigns of legislators seeking re-election.

Luján couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.

Luján actually reports two funds, the Committee to Re-elect Ben Luján and a separate political committee known as the Ben Luján Speaker Fund, which receives and spends the most.

So far, according to reports available on the Secretary of State's Web site, the Speaker Fund has received contributions totaling $59,875 and has spent $76,044, leaving a balance of $71,668.

There was a balance of $87,838 at the beginning of the reporting period covered by the May 12 report, which is the first report of this election year. Balances from past election years are allowed to be carried over.

The Committee to Re-elect Ben Luján, according to the reports on the site, has received a total of $19,125 during the current election cycle. The committee has spent a total of $16,044 this year, leaving a balance of $141,091.

The biggest contributors to Luján's Speaker Fund is Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, which has contributed $5,100; the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 412 PAC, $5,000; the Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris tobacco, $2,500; Ambassador Financial Services, a residential mortgage company, $2,300; Presbyterian healthcare providers, $2,250; and Sunray Gaming of New Mexico, a Farmington racetrack and casino, $2,000.

The biggest contributors for Luján's re-election committee are UST, a smokeless tobacco company, which gave $2,000, and New Mexico RPAC, a political action committee.

The Speaker Fund this year has handed out contributions to more than 20 legislative candidates during the primary season and 40 legislative candidates so far during the general election. The contributions to legislative candidates ranged from $200 to $1,000. Many of those receiving contributions are running unopposed.

In addition, the fund contributed to the Democratic Parties of all 33 New Mexico counties. All of them received $200, except Quay County, which got $300, and Santa Fe, which got $250. He also gave $10,000 to the state Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

He contributed a total of $1,500 from the Speaker Fund to the congressional campaign of his son, Ben Ray Luján, during the primary election and another $1,000 during the general election, according to the reports.

While state candidates are not allowed to use funds received from a federal campaign, there's no law in New Mexico against state candidates giving contributions to candidates for federal office.

The Speaker Fund also gave Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign $1,000 in 2007. In August, Luján contributed $500 to Hillary Clinton, who was in the state raising funds to defray the cost of her unsuccessful campaign.

The Speaker Fund contributed $700 to defray the cost of two funerals, according to the reports. One was for a former legislator, Manny Herrera of Silver City, who died in 2007. He also made various charitable contributions, such as $250 to the Santa Fe High School football program.

Luján's re-election committee also contributed $10,000 to the state Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, plus $500 to the state Democratic Party, $100 to the Santa Fe County Democratic Party and $500 to the re-election of Thomas Garcia, D-Ocate.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.