2012 New Mexico Senate election

The 2012 New Mexico Senate election took place as part of the biennial United States elections. New Mexico voters elected state senators in all 42 of the state senate's districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the New Mexico Senate. The election coincided with elections for other offices, including for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S House, and state house.
A primary election on June 5, 2012, determined which candidates appeared on the November 6th general election ballot.

Results summary

Retiring incumbents

Incumbents defeated in the primary election

Lynda Lovejoy, defeated by Benny Shendo
David Ulibarri, defeated by Clemente Sanchez

Incumbents defeated in the general election

Lisa Curtis, defeated by Mark Moores
Timothy Jennings, defeated by Cliff Pirtle
Mary Jane Garcia, defeated by Lee Cotter

Detailed results

Source for primary election results:
Source for general election results:

District 1

Incumbent Republican William Sharer has represented the 1st district since 2001.

District 2

Incumbent Republican Steven Neville has represented the 2nd district since 2005.

District 3

Incumbent Democrat John Pinto has represented the 3rd district since 1977.
Democratic primary

General election

District 4

Incumbent Democrat George Muñoz has represented the 4th district since 2009.
Democratic primary

General election

District 5

Incumbent Democrat Richard Martinez has represented the 5th district since 2001.
Democratic primary

General election

District 6

Incumbent Democrat Carlos Cisneros has represented the 6th district since 1985.

District 7

Incumbent Republican Clinton Harden has represented the 7th district since 2003. Harden didn't seek re-election and fellow Republican Pat Woods won the open seat.
Republican primary

General election

District 8

Incumbent Democrat Pete Campos has represented the 8th district since 1991. State Representative Thomas Garcis unsuccessfully challenged Campos for the Democratic nomination.
Democratic primary

General election

District 9

Incumbent Democrat John Sapien has represented the 9th district since 2009.
Democratic primary

General election

District 10

Incumbent Republican John Ryan has represented the 10th district since 2005.

District 11

Incumbent Democrat Linda Lopez has represented the 11th district since 1997.

District 12

The new 12th district includes the homes of incumbent Democrats Jerry Ortiz y Pino, who has represented the 12th district since 2005, and Eric Griego, who has represented the 14th district since 2009. Griego retired to run for Congress while Ortiz y Pino was re-elected here.

District 13

Incumbent Democrat Dede Feldman has represented the 13th district since 1997. Feldman didn't seek re-election and fellow Democrat Bill O'Neill won the open seat.
Democratic primary

General election

District 14

The new 14th district is based in southwestern Bernalillo County and includes much of South Valley. The district has no incumbent. Democrat Michael Padilla won the open seat.
Democratic primary

General election

District 15

Incumbent Democrat Tim Eichenberg has represented the 15th district since 2009. Eichenberg didn't seek re-election and fellow Democrat Daniel Ivey-Soto won the open seat.

District 16

Incumbent Democrat Cisco McSorley has represented the 16th district since 1997.

District 17

Incumbent Democrat Tim Keller has represented the 17th district since 2009.

District 18

Incumbent Republican Mark Boitano has represented the 18th district since 1997. Boitano didn't seek re-election and fellow Republican Lisa Torraco won the open seat.
Republican primary

General election

District 19

Incumbent Republican Sue Wilson Beffort has represented the 19th district since 1997.

District 20

Incumbent Republican William Payne has represented the 20th district since 1997.

District 21

Incumbent Democrat Lisa Curtis has represented the 21st district since her appointment in 2012 following the resignation of Republican Kent Cravens. Curtis lost re-election to Republican Mark Moores.
Republican primary

General election

District 22

Incumbent Democrat Lynda Lovejoy has represented the 22nd district since 2007. Lovejoy lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Benny Shendo, who was unopposed in the general election.
Democratic primary

General election

District 23

Incumbent Republican Sander Rue has represented the 23rd district since 2009.

District 24

Incumbent Democrat Nancy Rodriguez has represented the 24th district since 1997.

District 25

Incumbent Democrat Peter Wirth has represented the 25th district since 2009.

District 26

Incumbent Democrat Bernadette Sanchez has represented the 26th district since 2001. Sanchez didn't seek re-election and fellow Democrat Jacob Candelaria won the open seat.
Democratic primary

General election

District 27

Incumbent Republican Minority Leader Stuart Ingle has represented the 27th district since 1985.

District 28

Incumbent Democrat Howie Morales has represented the 28th district since 2009.

District 29

Incumbent Democrat and Majority Leader Michael Sanchez has represented the 29th district since 1993.

District 30

Incumbent Democrat David Ulibarri has represented the 30th district since 2006. Ulibari lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Clemente Sanchez, who went on to win the general election.
Democratic primary

General election

District 31

Incumbent Democrat Cynthia Nava has represented the 31st district since 1993. Nava didn't seek re-election and fellow Democrat Joe Cervantes won the open seat.
Democratic primary

General election

District 32

Incumbent Democrat and President Pro Tempore Timothy Jennings has represented the 32nd district since 1979. Jennings lost re-election to Republican Cliff Pirtle.
Republican primary

General election

District 33

The new 33rd district includes the homes of incumbent Republicans Rod Adair, who has represented the 33rd district since 1997, and William Burt, who has represented the 40th district since 2011. Adair didn't seek re-election and Burt was re-elected here.

District 34

Incumbent Republican Vernon Asbill has represented the 34th district since 2005. Asbill didn't seek re-election and fellow Republican Ron Griggs won the open seat.
Republican primary

General election

District 35

Incumbent Democrat John Arthur Smith has represented the 35th district since 1989.
Democratic primary

General election

District 36

Incumbent Democrat Mary Jane Garcia has represented the 36th district since 1989. Garcia lost re-election to Republican Lee Cotter.
Democratic primary

General election

District 37

Incumbent Democrat Stephen Fischmann has represented the 37th district since 2009. Fischmann didn't seek re-election and fellow Democrat William Soules won the open seat.

District 38

Incumbent Democrat Mary Kay Papen has represented the 38th district since 2001.

District 39

Incumbent Democrat Phil Griego has represented the 39th district since 1997.
Democratic primary

General election

District 40

The new 40th district is based in southwestern Sandoval County and includes much of Rio Rancho. The district has no incumbent. Republican Craig Brandt won the open seat.
Republican primary

General election

District 41

Incumbent Republican Carroll Leavell has represented the 41st district since 1997.

District 42

Incumbent Republican Gay Kernan has represented the th district since 2002.