2016 New Mexico Senate election

The 2016 New Mexico Senate elections 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 President, U.S House, and state house.

A primary election on June 7, 2016 determined which candidates appeared on the November 8th general election ballot.

Retiring incumbents

 * John Ryan (R-District 10)

Defeated incumbents

 * Lisa Torraco (R-District 13), defeated by Bill Tallman (D)
 * Michael Sanchez (D-District 29), defeated by Gregory Baca (R)
 * Lee Cotter (R-District 36), defeated by Jeff Steinborn (D)
 * Ted Barela (R-District 39), defeated by Liz Stefanics (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.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

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 20.

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 th district since 2001.

District 6
Incumbent Democrat Carlos Cisneros has represented the 6th district since 20.

District 7
Incumbent Republican Pat Woods has represented the 7th district since 2012.

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

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. Ryan didn't seek re-election. Fellow Republican Candace Gould narrowly won the open seat.

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

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

District 13
Incumbent Democrat Bill O'Neill has represented the 13th district since 2013.

District 14
Incumbent Democrat Michael Padilla has represented the 14th district since 2013.

District 15
Incumbent Democrat Daniel Ivey-Soto has represented the 15th district since 2013.

District 16
Incumbent Democrat Cisco McSorley has represented the 16th district since 20.

District 17
Incumbent Democrat Mimi Stewart has represented the 17th district since her appointment in 2015. Stewart was elected to a full term.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 18
Incumbent Republican Lisa Torraco has represented the 18th district since 2013. She lost re-election to Democrat Bill Tallman.

District 19
Incumbent Republican James White has represented the 19th district since his appointment in 2016.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

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

District 21
Incumbent Republican Mark Moores has represented the 21st district since 2013.

District 22
Incumbent Democrat Benny Shendo has represented the 22nd district since 2013.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 23
Incumbent Republican Sander Rue has represented the 23rd district since 2009.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 24
Incumbent Democrat Nancy Rodriguez has represented the 24th district since 1996.

District 25
Incumbent Democratic Majority Leader Peter Wirth has represented the 25th district since 2009.

District 26
Incumbent Democrat Jacob Candelaria has represented the 26th district since 2013.

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 20.

District 29
Incumbent Democrat Michael Sanchez has represented the 29th district since 1993. He lost re-election to Republican Gregory Baca.

District 30
Incumbent Democrat Clemente Sanchez has represented the 30th district since 2013.

District 31
Incumbent Democrat Joe Cervantes has represented the 31st district since 2012.

District 32
Incumbent Republican Cliff Pirtle has represented the 32nd district since 2013.

District 33
Incumbent Republican William Burt has represented the 33rd district and its predecessors since 2011.

District 34
Incumbent Republican Ron Griggs has represented the 34th district since 2012.

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

District 36
Incumbent Republican Lee Cotter has represented the 36th district since 2013. He lost re-election to Democrat Jeff Steinborn.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 37
Incumbent Democrat William Soules has represented the 37th district since 2013.

District 38
Incumbent Democrat President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen has represented the 38th district since 2001.

District 39
Incumbent Republican Ted Barela has represented the 39th district since his appointment on April 3, 2015. He ran for re-election to a full term, but he was defeated for re-election by Democrat Liz Stefanics.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 40
Incumbent Republican Craig Brandt has represented the 40th district since 2013.

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.