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In the June 3 primary, New Mexico Republicans will likely have to choose between Rep. Steve Pearce, a down-the-line conservative who nearly always votes with his party, and Rep. Heather Wilson, an occasional rebel, as their nominee to replace Sen. Pete Domenici.

Other candidates might enter the primary race, but it is unlikely any will have the name recognition or political background as the two members of Congress.

Pearce, 60, of Hobbs, is expected to tell supporters today that he will oppose Wilson, 46, of Albuquerque, for Domenici's seat. A formal announcement is a couple of weeks away.

Reacting to news of Pearce's plans, Wilson said, "I will run hard and I expect to win."

Already in the race is Spiro Vassilopoulos, an oil industry investor. State Lands Commissioner Pat Lyons has said he is considering a bid.

Among Democrats, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez is the front-runner. He joins Don Wiviott, Jim Hannen and Leland Lehrman, all of Santa Fe.

Pearce said he told Wilson after she announced on Oct. 5, the day after Domenici revealed he would not run again because of an incurable mental illness, that he was strongly inclined to run for the Senate.

Pearce also is seeking to scotch rumblings that the White House and national Republican leaders are siding with Wilson. After reports surfaced last week that Vice President Dick Cheney would attend a fund-raiser for Wilson - scheduled when she was running for the House - Pearce said he called Cheney and was assured the vice president would attend a fund-raiser for him as well and not take sides.

Besides, Pearce told The Tribune, "The vote doesn't occur in Washington. The vote occurs with the people of New Mexico."

If party leaders do back Wilson it might suggest that practical politics count more than loyalty.

An analysis of House votes by the Washington, D.C., publication Congressional Quarterly shows that Pearce is much more likely than Wilson to back President Bush and vote with the majority of Republicans.

This year through Aug. 4, Pearce voted with the majority of his Republican colleagues 96 percent of the time on 526 votes in which the parties were opposed, according to CQ. Wilson voted with the GOP 75 percent of the time during that period.

Last year, when Republicans controlled the House, Pearce voted with the party 98 percent of the time; Wilson was 83 percent.

On the 76 House votes so far this year on which Bush took a position, Wilson sided with the president 64 percent of the time compared to 84 percent for Pearce, CQ found.

Although Senate votes cannot be compared directly with House votes, CQ's analysis showed that Domenici voted with Bush 87 percent of the time this year and 91 percent in 2006. He was less in step with Senate Republicans, voting with the majority 74 percent this year and 85 percent in 2006.

Pearce told The Tribune he did not think his conservative voting record would be a problem for him in a statewide general election. Constituents at town hall meetings in his district frequently disagree with him, he said, but praise him for "genuineness and accessibility."

Wilson said she does not believe her voting record will be a problem for her in the primary.

Both candidates have tended to back Bush on national security and the war in Iraq, but there have been differences in tone.

Wilson criticized the president's deployment of additional troops into Baghdad, but, like Pearce, has voted against all Democratic bills to withdraw U.S. troops.

Pearce, who piloted Air Force cargo planes during the Vietnam War, has compared Iraq to that conflict and said a pullout would be disastrous for Iraq and the United States.

He was one of only 24 members of the House, all Republicans, who voted against a resolution that said the United States should not have permanent bases in Iraq. Wilson voted in favor.

On immigration, Pearce and Wilson joined a small number of Republicans opposing plans to build a fence across a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border, citing opposition by New Mexico residents.

Most of Wilson's differences with Pearce have come on social and economic issues.

She voted this year for bills to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour and to authorize federal funding for stem cell research. Pearce opposed both.

And in a key difference with both Pearce and Domenici, Wilson voted for an energy bill amendment by Rep. Tom Udall, a Santa Fe Democrat, to require utilities to obtain 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources such as wind and solar by 2020.

Today, Wilson is expected to follow the administration's position and argue against a Democratic bill that would authorize but limit the ability of the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on the calls and Internet messages of foreigners, including transmissions that might involve U.S. citizens.

But Thursday, she is expected to vote to override Bush's veto of a bill to expand the State Children's Health Insurance program by $35 billion over five years. Domenici supports the bill; Pearce opposes it.

Wilson also is trying to exert leadership in passing Domenici's mental health parity bill in the House, though Democrats have other ideas.

On Tuesday, a House committee rejected Wilson's effort to substitute the Senate bill for a much broader bill that she warned will never make it into law.

Both measures would bar insurance companies from charging more for co-payments for mental illnesses than physical illnesses, or otherwise limit mental health benefits if they are offered.

But the Senate bill would allow insurance companies to decide what mental illnesses are covered, while the House bill covers all illnesses cited in an 880-page guide developed by psychologists.

Critics say the House bill would lead to patients demanding payments for jet lag and caffeine dependency. Supporters say insurers could still deny treatment as unnecessary.

Wilson said the House bill would make it more likely that insurance companies and employers would decide not to offer any mental health benefits.

"This would hurt coverage for serious mental conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia," said Wilson.

Ironically, the bill also pits two Kennedys and Massachusetts Democrats against one another. Sen. Ted Kennedy is the lead author with Domenici of the Senate bill, while his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, is sponsoring the competing House bill.