By Pat Davis, New Mexico Political Report — New Mexico’s House Speaker Javier Martinez is headed into January’s legislative session with a super-majority of Democrats after a national “blue wave” of votes for Democrats ousted four Republican legislators from the State House.
Republican Representative Catherine Cullen of Sandoval County lost in House District 57 to Chriselle Verene Martinez. In Grant County, Representative Luis Terrazas lost to Democrat Raul Turrieta. Rep. Rebecca Dow from Sierra County lost to Democrat David Mooney and Rep. Tanya Mirabal Moya of Valencia County lost to Rickie Allen Gonzales II.
Those wins give Democrats 47 seats of the 70 seats, or 67%, in State House of Representatives. With a two-thirds or larger majority, House Democrats have enough votes to mostly legislate in committee and on the floor over objections by Republicans and override any vetos by the governor. Democrats in the State Senate maintain a 26 – 16 majority, though not a super-majority.
Democrats did not pick up every seat on their target list, however. In the closely-watched race in House District 31 in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, former State Senator Lisa Curtis came up short in her attempt to unseat Republican Representative Nicole Chavez.
The legislature is in session Jan. 19 – Mar. 20 after legislators, Gov.-elect Deb Haaland and other state officials take office on Jan. 1.
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