Dems keep majority in State Legislature

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Despite financially backed efforts from Republican Governor Susana Martinez and her party to oust democrats from the legislature in Santa Fe, election results show that democrats will likely retain control of the Senate and House.

According to the latest results from the New Mexico Secretary of State's Office, Senate President Tim Jennings was defeated by republican challenger Cliff Pirtle by five points. However, State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez was able to defeat challenger Republican David Chavez by about 11 points.

These were hotly contested races with major political attack ads on both sides.

At least six races could have gone either way to change party leadership roles. One was in Albuquerque's North Valley, where firefighter Emily Kane, a democrat, faced off with republican attorney Chris Saucedo. Saucedo lost to Kane 51 to 49.

Governor Martinez and her team targeted these races to try to make it a more friendly environment for republicans in the next session in the Roundhouse.

This is important because the governor's agenda includes education reform and ending drivers licenses for illegal immigrants. Both issues have met stiff resistance from democrats in the Roundhouse.