ALBUQUERQUE — Harry Teague, who worked his way from oil-field hand to millionaire business owner, added a dramatic chapter to his rags-to-riches biography Tuesday night by winning a seat in Congress.
The Democratic oilman from Hobbs, a high- school dropout who spent $1.8 million of his own money on the race, defeated Republican Ed Tinsley to snap a 28-year GOP hold on southern New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District.
The Democratic Party rode a wave of support for Barack Obama and swept New Mexico’s congressional races.
Tinsley called Teague shortly before 10 p.m. to concede the race.
“I want to congratulate Harry Teague on a hard-fought race,” Tinsley said.
The 59-year-old son of Oklahoma sharecroppers, Teague moved to New Mexico as a youth and dropped out of Hobbs High School days before turning 17, laboring in the oil field for $1.50 an hour to support his ill parents.
Teague relied on working-class roots to fuel his candidacy and benefited from a national climate that drove a big year for Democrats. His campaign worked to recruit new voters from the working poor and Hispanics.
The two men were chasing the office vacated by Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., who lost his bid for New Mexico’s open Senate seat. The Associated Press
