2008 New Mexico Senate election

The 2008 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 3, 2008, determined which candidates appeared on the November 4th general election ballot.

Retiring incumbents

 * Lidio Rainaldi (D-District 4)
 * Joseph Carraro (R-District 23), to run for Congress
 * John Grubesic (D-District 25)

Incumbents defeated in the primary election

 * James Taylor (D-District 14), defeated by Eric Griego (D)
 * Shannon Robinson (D-District 17), defeated by Tim Keller (D)

Incumbents defeated in the general election

 * Steve Komadina (R-District 9), defeated by John Sapien (D)
 * Diane Snyder (R-District 15), defeated by Tim Eichenberg (D)
 * Leonard Lee Rawson (R-District 37), defeated by Stephen Fischmann (D)

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 Lidio Rainaldi has represented the 4th district since 2001. Rainaldi didn't seek re-election and fellow Democrat George Muñoz won the open seat.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

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

District 6
Incumbent Democrat Carlos Cisneros has represented the 6th district since 1985.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 7
Incumbent Republican Clinton Harden has represented the 7th district since 2003.

District 8
Incumbent Democrat Pete Campos has represented the 8th district since 1991.

District 9
Incumbent Republican Steve Komadina has represented the 9th district since 2001. Komadina lost re-election to Democrat John Sapien.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

District 10
Incumbent Republican John Ryan has represented the 10th district since 2005.
 * Democratic primary


 * Republican primary


 * General election

District 11
Incumbent Democrat Linda Lopez has represented the 11th district since 1997.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 12
Incumbent Democrat Jerry Ortiz y Pino has represented the 12th district since 2005.

District 13
Incumbent Democrat Dede Feldman has represented the 13th district since 1997.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 14
Incumbent Democrat James Taylor has represented the 14th district since 2005. Taylor lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Eric Griego, who was unopposed in the general election.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 15
Incumbent Republican Diane Snyder has represented the 15th district since 2001. Snyder lost re-election to Democrat Tim Eichenberg.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

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

District 17
Incumbent Democrat Shannon Robinson has represented the 17th district since 1989. Robinson lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Tim Keller, who was unopposed in the general election.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 18
Incumbent Republican Mark Boitano has represented the 18th district since 1997.

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 Republican Kent Cravens has represented the 21st district since 2001.

District 22
Incumbent Democrat Lynda Lovejoy has represented the 22nd district since her appointment in 2007 following the resignation of Leonard Tsosie. Lovejoy was elected to a full term.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 23
Incumbent Republican Joseph Carraro has represented the 23rd district since 1993. Carraro retired to run for Congress and fellow Republican Sander Rue won the open seat.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

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

District 25
Incumbent Democratic John Grubesic has represented the 25th district since 2005. Grubesic didn't seek re-election and Democratic State Representative Peter Wirth won the open seat.

District 26
Incumbent Democrat Bernadette Sanchez has represented the 26th district since 2001.

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 his appointment in 2008 following the death of Ben Altamirano. Morales was elected to a full term.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 29
Incumbent Democrat Michael Sanchez has represented the 29th district since 1993.

District 30
Incumbent Democrat David Ulibarri has represented the 30th district since his appointment in 2006 following the resignation of Joseph Fidel. Ulibarri was elected to a full term.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 31
Incumbent Democrat Cynthia Nava has represented the 31st district since 1993.

District 32
Incumbent Democrat and President pro tempore Timothy Jennings has represented the 32nd district since 1979.

District 33
Incumbent Republican Rod Adair has represented the 33rd district since 1997.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

District 34
Incumbent Republican Vernon Asbill has represented the 34th district since 2005.

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

District 36
Incumbent Democrat Mary Jane Garcia has represented the 36th district since 1989.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 37
Incumbent Republican Leonard Lee Rawson has represented the 37th district since 1993. Rawson lost re-election to Democrat Stephen Fischmann.

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.

District 40
Incumbent Republican Dianna Duran has represented the 40th district since 1993.

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.