Gov. backed candidate loses

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's attempt to influence legislative races ran into trouble Tuesday in eastern New Mexico where a candidate backed by the first-term governor lost a race for an open state Senate seat.

Curry County rancher Pat Woods defeated Angie Spears of Clovis in a race that was an early test of the governor's political clout in trying to reshape the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

The governor campaigned for Spears and provided financial support.

Woods had 52 percent of the vote with complete unofficial results. Woods was backed by the retiring GOP incumbent, Clint Harden of Clovis. Spears works for a nonprofit providing behavioral health services.

The governor's top political adviser worked as a consultant to Spears, and his involvement became an issue in the race after Spears attacked Woods for previously providing campaign contributions to some Democrats.

There's no Democrat in the Senate race, which means Woods is expected to fill the seat in the Legislature. It's possible that he could draw a minor party or independent candidate in the general election because their filing deadline is later this month.

In declaring victory in the race, Woods pledged to serve "Republicans, Democrats and independents with the same integrity and humility in the coming months and years." He said he was "optimistic that the same passions that energized this entire race can now be rededicated to uniting our community for the greater good."

Although the governor's favored candidate lost in the Senate race, Woods is a conservative who's expected to be a reliable supporter of Martinez's agenda in the Legislature.

State Democratic Party chairman Javier Gonzales pointed to the Senate race in eastern New Mexico, saying "New Mexicans rejected Susana Martinez's particularly nasty brand of politics and asserted their independence from the governor's mansion."

Two dozen incumbents faced primary challengers, and more legislators will face opponents in the general election.

Two GOP incumbents from Roswell were running for the same House seat because of redistricting. Bob Wooley defeated Dennis Kintigh with 55 percent of the vote, according to complete unofficial results. Wooley was appointed to the House last year and Kintigh is serving his second two-year term.

They were lumped together in the same southeastern New Mexico district after boundaries were revamped to adjust for population changes during the past decade. The primary winner probably will have a free ride to re-election because there's no Democrat in the race.

In a House race in northern New Mexico, Democratic incumbent Richard Vigil lost his re-election bid. He is the brother of former state Treasurer Robert Vigil, who was convicted in a public corruption scandal. Tomas Salazar of Las Vegas won with 55% of the vote, according to complete unofficial results.

A Democratic incumbent senator, David Ulibarri of Grants, stumbled in his attempt for another four-year term. He was running third in a four-way primary in a race in west-central New Mexico. Maxine Velasquez of Laguna held a narrow lead over Clemente Sanchez of Grants, according to complete unofficial results. Ulibarri trailed with 22 percent of the vote. Sanchez lost by five votes to Ulibarri in the 2008 Democratic primary after a recount.

Democrats currently enjoy a 28 to 14 advantage over Republicans in the Senate. However, Democrats cling to a narrow 36-33 majority in the House, where there's also one independent.

Republicans gained eight House seats in the 2010 elections. GOP hopes it can pick up enough seats this year to claim a majority in the House for the first time since the early 1950s.