Congressman Steve Pearce, Capt-USAF (R-NM-2) is running in the 2nd Congressional District of New Mexico against Congressman Harry Teague (D-NM-2), the 2nd Congressional District of New Mexico the 2nd District is a district that John McCain carried last year. Cong Pearce was previously elected for three terms to Congress in the 2nd Congressional District in New Mexico; he ran for the US Senate in New Mexico in 2008 and was defeated in the Obama landslide.
Congressman Pearce was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force and received his wings in 1970. Lt. Pearce served for a one and a half year tour in the Vietnam Theatre supporting ground forces; he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Capt Pearce continued on active duty with the Strategic Air Command and was separated honorably from the US Air Force as a Captain in 1976.