89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NM Female Legislators Steady Despite Senate Drop

JHarrelson

The overall number of female lawmakers in New Mexico is staying about the same but that's despite a significant drop in the number of female senators.

The Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/UnwOAS ) reports that the number of women in the 42-member Senate will drop to six in 2013, down from 11 this year. The peak was 13 in 2001.

The drop-off next year is due to a combination of retirements and election defeats.

However, the House is gaining at least five women. That number could increase to six as a result of a still-unsettled race in Las Cruces.

With the Senate's decrease and the increase in the House, the Legislature will have at least 31 female legislators. That's as many as there are now.