New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich is stepping up to shape the future of the Senate’s Democratic Caucus and putting his finger on the scale in some key competitive primaries — even when it means splitting with his party’s own leadership.
The top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee said the moves are part of a strategy to influence his party and focus it more on the needs of working people.
Heinrich’s string of endorsements in competitive races nationwide also come as his own political star is rising — and give some insight to the power he hopes to wield.
“It’s something that I haven’t really done in the past. It’s through this lens of trying to get our party back to where we belong,” Heinrich told POLITICO’s E&E News in an interview.
“We need to be a majority party, and that means the answer in Michigan and Iowa may not be the same as New Mexico and Texas,” he continued, calling for a “bigger tent” and “new leadership, younger leadership.”
Heinrich easily won reelection last year for a third term in the Senate — after serving in he House — and is now Energy and Natural Resources ranking member, his first time in a committee leadership spot.
The senator’s moves comes as Democrats continue to hash out what direction to take their party, in a bid to better connect with voters and turn their electoral fortunes around.
Heinrich has endorsed hopefuls in a pair of closely watched 2026 races, both times snubbing the candidate favored by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
In Maine, he’s backing oyster farmer Graham Platner, writing on X, “We need more candidates like this,” in response to a campaign video from the candidate hoping to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Schumer is embracing Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) in that primary.
Heinrich is likewise endorsing Mallory McMorrow in the primary for the open seat being left by Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D), saying, “We need leaders with the energy to fight, the experience to deliver, and the courage to call B.S. when they see it. That’s Mallory McMorrow.”
Schumer is said to favor Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens in that Democratic primary, believing she is the strongest candidate for what will be a highly competitive general election. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is also supporting Stevens.
Unlike Platner, McMorrow is not the progressive favorite. Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) are backing former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed.
Heinrich said he’s not screening candidates for a particular ideology. “‘Can you connect with working people?’ Because I think that’s why our brand has had real challenges in recent years,” said Heinrich.
“I think our party needs to recenter around working people, and so I’m looking for candidates that get that right and are effective communicators. And that’s kind of the through thread,” he said.
Platner is positioning himself as a progressive alternative to Mills in the fight to unseat Collins after nearly three decades in the Senate. Mills entered the race after intense recruitment efforts by Schumer.
Platner has faced significant controversy over profane writings on social media and a tattoo — since covered up with new ink — depicting an image linked to Nazi ideology. Heinrich has criticized the tattoo but stood by Platner.
Heinrich also contributed $5,000 to Platner’s campaign via Lobo PAC, his leadership political action committee, records show.
Other donations from the PAC this cycle include $5,000 to the reelection campaign of Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who has since gotten a challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton (D).
In the Michigan contest, McMorrow welcomed Heinrich’s endorsement, saying they both “believe politics will only work if you’re fighting for people, not just yelling past them.”
It was McMorrow’s first endorsement from a sitting senator, while Platner had previously gotten the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
The endorsements are likely smart political moves that could push Democrats toward better candidates and better connections with voters, said Joe Britton, Heinrich’s former chief of staff.
“He has a pretty good read on public sentiment and is supporting candidates with fresh energy and an ability to connect with working class voters,” said Britton, who now leads the lobbying firm Pioneer Public Affairs.
“Folks can obviously judge candidates in different ways, but he has certainly earned a right to share his informed opinion about those he feels strongly about.”
Heinrich gave a hint about his next endorsement in a statement through a spokesperson.
“I want more voters to see themselves in the Democratic Party,” he said in the statement. “The answer in Michigan, Maine and Minnesota are going to look and sound different. That’s OK. That’s what a majority party looks like.”
In Minnesota, Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are both vying for the Democratic nomination in what’s likely to be a competitive race to succeed Sen. Tina Smith (D), who is stepping down.
