The manager of Sierra County, Gil M. Olguin, announced his candidacy on February 2, 1980 and began to collect signatures.

The NM Attorney General issued an opinion that since no Republican filed for the primary, it was too late for them to list a nominee on the ballot.

Dorothy Runnels, widow of the deceased congressman, was interested in running, and Republicans in general believed she would be to their liking[7] The Democrats scheduled a meeting to select their nominee on August 23.

[10] When the Democrats met, however, political pressure from the governor was too great; King was nominated with 55 votes to 27 for Runnels and 4 for Olguin.

A poll by KOAT-TV released on September 24 showed Runnels leading with 36% to Skeen 28%, King 18%, and State Sen. Aubrey Dunn with 7%.