NM House Democrats, Republicans elect new leadership teams for upcoming 60-day session

SANTA FE — There will be new leaders in key positions on both sides of the aisle in the New Mexico House of Representatives come January.

House Democrats on Saturday picked Reena Szczepanski of Santa Fe as the new majority floor leader in a closed-door caucus meeting, while House Republicans selected Gail Armstrong of Magdalena as their new floor leader.

The elections of Szczepanski and Armstrong will mark the first time women have held their respective caucus floor leader positions at the same time in New Mexico state House history.

Szczepanski, who has served in the state House since 2023 after serving as chief of staff to former House Speaker Brian Egolf, said she has worked on issues with Armstrong in the past.

“I think there is a lot of potential for us to work together,” Szczepanski told the Journal after Saturday’s caucus meeting.

However, she said House Democrats will be “extremely vigilant” about protecting health care access and privacy rights if President-elect Donald Trump’s administration pursues sweeping changes.

For her part, Armstrong said she’s also hopeful about finding bipartisan agreement on key issues and maintaining an atmosphere of civility in the 70-member chamber.

But she said House Republicans will be ready to stand up and oppose Democrats when they deem it necessary to do so.

“We’re ready to work and ready to fight,” said Armstrong, who has developed a reputation at the Roundhouse for being an outspoken advocate for rural New Mexico.

Both House caucuses also picked whips for the next two years, who are primarily tasked with lining up votes on key bills.

Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil of Albuquerque is the new House Democratic whip, while Rep. Alan Martinez of Bernalillo retained the position for House Republicans.

Rep.-elect Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, who previously served in the Legislature before stepping down in 2022 to run for governor, will be the House GOP caucus chairwoman, while Rep. Raymundo “Ray” Lara of Chamberino will hold the caucus chairman position for House Democrats.

Democrats also nominated Javier Martínez of Albuquerque to keep his influential post as Speaker of the House, though the entire 70-member chamber will vote on that position on the opening day of the legislative session in January.

The leadership posts were open after House Democratic floor leader Gail Chasey of Albuquerque did not seek reelection this year after serving in the state House since 1996.

On the Republican side, former House Minority Leader Ryan Lane of Aztec resigned from the Legislature in March for personal reasons.

Democrats have held a majority in the House of Representatives for all but two years, going back to 1954.

They will enter the upcoming legislative session in January with a 44-26 advantage over Republicans in the chamber, after Republicans picked up one seat in this month’s general election.

Meanwhile, next year’s session will mark the first time that women will hold a majority in the Legislature, as female candidates won 60 of the 112 legislative seats in this month’s general election.

Crime, health care, gun safety, paid family leave and water issues are expected to be among the topics generating ample debate during the 60-day session, which starts Jan. 21.