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Incumbent New Mexico House representatives survived challenges from within their party in Tuesday's primary elections 鈥� except for one.

Rep. Marian Matthews, D-sa国际传媒官网网页入口, lost to Abby Foster in the primary for the Northeast Heights seat. Matthews is a moderate Democrat and Foster during the campaign criticized Matthews鈥� recent votes against paid family medical leave bills and for supporting bipartisan bills in the Legislature.

Matthews in a recent Journal op-ed wrote she was being targeted for her support of House Bill 99, which made changes to medical malpractice laws in the state. She said trial attorneys who were against those reforms supported Foster in her campaign. 

Unofficial results showed Foster won by 142 votes in a race that drew 4,178 voters, according to the Secretary of State's Office.

"It was hard work. We worked hard, and Marian Matthews' team worked hard," Foster said Wednesday. "I was expecting it to be close. In the last couple of weeks I started to get the feeling that it was going to be close."

The District 27 House race was reflective of other races in New Mexico during the primary, as more progressive Democrats fared better than moderate candidates, including in the governor's race. 

"Progressives did have a good night last night," Foster said. "But I'd have to crunch the numbers to say" what that means about the state of the party.

Matthews said Wednesday that special interests prevailed.

"The outcome in the District 27 House seat shows the power of special interest money and the misinformation and disinformation to describe my legislative record," she said.

Other close races 

The Republican primary in the District 27 race was also tight, with Jahnelle Garcia winning with 52% of the votes over Robert Godshall. 

A Republican primary in southeast New Mexico is possibly heading to a recount, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Leanne Gandy received 999 votes and Dan Lewis (not the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 city councilor) received 991 votes in House District 66. 

The seat was previously held by Rep. Jimmy Mason, R-Artesia, who did not seek reelection.

Besides Matthews, all other incumbents in competitive primary races won. 

Rep. Martha Garcia, D-Pine Hill, survived a crowded field of four candidates in the District 6 House race, according to unofficial results. She won 44% of the votes.

Garcia, a former Cibola County commissioner, was appointed to the seat in February 2025 to replace Rep. Eliseo Alcon after he died. 

In District 6, which represents parts of San Juan County, Rep. Joseph Hernandez, D-Shiprock, received 52% of the votes over challenger Christina Aspaas.