2020 New Mexico Senate election

The 2020 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.

A primary election on June 2, 2020 determined which candidates will appear on the November 3 general election ballot.

Closest races
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
 * 1) District 28, 0.6%
 * 2) District 30, 2.2% gain
 * 3) District 29, 2.2%
 * 4) District 23, 4.2% gain
 * 5) District 10, 4.8% gain
 * 6) District 21, 7.6% 
 * 7) District 9, 7.8%
 * 8) District 20, 7.8% gain

Retiring incumbents
Two incumbent senators (one Republican and one Democrat) chose to not seek reelection.
 * 1) John Sapien (D), District 9
 * 2) William Payne (R), District 20

In primary
Seven incumbent senators (five Democrats and two Republicans) sought reelection but were defeated in the June 2 primary. The Democrats defeated in the primary were part of a conservative faction that were targeted by progressive groups for voting with Republicans to defeat certain bills including legalizing marijuana or to pass bills limiting abortion rights. Two of the challengers who unseated the incumbents went on to lose the general election: Pamela Cordova in the 30th and Neomi Martinez-Parra in the 35th.
 * 1) Richard Martinez (D), District 5
 * 2) James White (R), District 19
 * 3) Gabriel Ramos (D), District 28
 * 4) Clemente Sanchez (D), District 30
 * 5) John Arthur Smith (D), District 35
 * 6) Mary Kay Papen (D), District 38
 * 7) Gregg Fulfer (R), District 41

In general election
Two incumbent senators, both Republicans, won their respective primaries but were defeated in the November 3 general election by their Democratic opponent.
 * 1) Candace Gould (R), District 10
 * 2) Sander Rue (R), District 23

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 Shannon Pinto has represented the 3rd district since her appointment on July 25, 2019 after the death of Democrat John Pinto (her grandfather). She was elected to a full term.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

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 5th district since 2001. Martinez lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Leo Jaramillo, who went on to win the general election.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 6
Incumbent Democrat Roberto Gonzales has represented the 6th district since his appointment to the seat on December 20, 2019 after the death of Democrat Carlos Cisneros.

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.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 9
Incumbent Democrat John Sapien has represented the 9th district since 2009. Sapien retired and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Brenda McKenna.
 * Democratic primary


 * Republican primary


 * General election

District 10
Incumbent Republican Candace Gould has represented the 10th district since 2017. Gould lost re-election to Democrat Katy Duhigg.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

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 and former congressional candidate Antoinette Sedillo Lopez has represented the 16th district since her appointment on January 14, 2019 after Democrat Cisco McSorley was named head of the Probation and Parole Division of the New Mexico Corrections Department.

District 17
Incumbent Democrat Mimi Stewart has represented the 17th district since 2015.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 18
Incumbent Democrat Bill Tallman has represented the 18th district since 2017.

District 19
Incumbent Republican James White has represented the 19th district since 2016. White lost re-nomination to fellow Republican Gregg Schmedes, who went on to win the general election.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

District 20
Incumbent Republican William Payne has represented the 20th district since 1997. Payne retired and Democrat Martin Hickey won the open seat.
 * Republican primary


 * Democratic primary


 * General election

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.

District 23
Incumbent Republican Sander Rue has represented the 23rd district since 2009. Rue lost re-election to Democrat Harold Pope Jr.

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 Gabriel Ramos has represented the 28th district since his appointment on January 15, 2019 after Democrat Howie Morales resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico. Ramos lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Siah Correa Hemphill, who wnet on to win the general election.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 29
Incumbent Republican Gregory Baca has represented the 29th district since 2017.

District 30
Incumbent Democrat Clemente Sanchez has represented the 30th district since 2013. Sanchez lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Pamela Cordova. Cordova lost the general election to Republican Joshua Sanchez.
 * Democratic primary


 * Republican primary


 * General election

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


 * General election

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.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

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. Smith lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Neomi Martinez-Parra. Martinez-Parra lost the general election to Republican Crystal Diamond.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 36
Incumbent Democrat Jeff Steinborn has represented the 36th district since 2017.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

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

District 38
Incumbent Democrat Mary Kay Papen has represented the 38th district since 2001. Papen lost re-nomination to fellow Democrat Carrie Hamblen, who went on to win the general election.
 * Democratic primary


 * General election

District 39
Incumbent Democrat Liz Stefanics has represented the 39th district since 2017.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

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

District 41
Incumbent Republican Gregg Fulfer has represented the 41st district since his appointment on December 26, 2018. Fulfer lost re-nomination to fellow Republican David Gallegos, who went on to win the general election.
 * Republican primary


 * General election

District 42
Incumbent Republican Gay Kernan has represented the th district since 2002.