Big wins for Democrats and (most) incumbents in New Mexico

While the country wakes up sorting out the implications of a historic presidential election, Tuesday's election changed the political makeup of New Mexico politics.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Democrats now control both chambers of the Legislature. Democrats also won back the Secretary of State's office, with Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver beating Nora Espinoza.

The so-called ART question, a non-binding ballot measure that would give Albuquerque voters an opportunity to vote on Albuquerque Rapid Transit, passed overwhelmingly with 76 percent of the vote. The $95 million mill levy question for the University of New Mexico Hospital also passed, with 56 percent of the vote.

Democrat Hillary Clinton carried New Mexico.

Other notable election results:

  • Four statewide bond measures passed.
  • Six Bernalillo County bond measures passed.
  • All three New Mexico U.S. Congressional incumbents (Republican Rep. Steve Pearce and Democrats Rep. Michelle Luján Grisham and Rep. Ben Ray Luján) were re-elected.
  • A state constitutional amendment allowing courts the authority to deny bail for dangerous defendants easily passed.
  • State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, lost his Senate seat.

According to the Secretary of State's office, 793,513 voters turned out for this year's election.