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SANTA FE 鈥� New Mexico Senate Democratic floor leader Peter Wirth generated political shock waves Tuesday by announcing he will not seek reelection in 2028.

The Santa Fe Democrat, who has served in the Legislature since 2004, also said he would relinquish his leadership post before the start of next year鈥檚 60-day legislative session but would still serve out the remainder of his term.

The decision means New Mexico will have a new governor and a new Senate Democratic floor leader come January 鈥� in addition to other possible leadership shakeups.

Wirth, whose home was the target of a bomb threat last year that prompted the closure of nearby roads, is currently tied as the Senate鈥檚 fourth-longest tenured member. He said his decision was prompted by a desire to allow for new leaders to step up.

鈥淧art of being a leader is knowing when it鈥檚 time to pass the baton,鈥� Wirth told the Journal.

A professional mediator known at the Roundhouse for his even-keeled demeanor, Wirth has served as Senate Democratic floor leader since November 2016. He succeeded former Sen. Michael Sanchez of Belen, who was defeated in that year鈥檚 general election.

As majority leader, Wirth played a key role in ensuring many of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham鈥檚 top-priority bills reached the Senate floor. He also took the lead in recent years on bills dealing with water rights and limiting data sharing from automatic license plate readers, among other topics.

鈥淚鈥檓 super proud of what we were able to accomplish, especially in the last two years,鈥� said Wirth, who also cited an overhaul of the state鈥檚 Public Regulation Commission as among his top accomplishments.

But Wirth and other Senate Democrats also broke ranks with the governor on occasion, including during a July 2024 special session that ended with lawmakers largely rejecting Lujan Grisham鈥檚 public safety-focused agenda.

Senate Minority Leader William Sharer, R-Farmington, lauded Wirth鈥檚 leadership after his Tuesday announcement, saying Wirth had treated minority Republicans with respect.

鈥淲hat we demonstrated together is that you can fight hard for what you believe in, disagree openly and honestly, and still find a way to move the state forward,鈥� Sharer said in a statement. 鈥淭hat is what the people of New Mexico sent us here to do, and I am proud of the way we did it.鈥�

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who鈥檚 also leaving office at the end of this year, said in an interview Wirth sought to maintain a high level of decorum and civility in the Senate during his time as Democratic floor leader.

鈥淗e demonstrated exactly what public service should be about,鈥� said Morales, who also praised Wirth鈥檚 calm presence and keen sense of strategy.

Democrats have held a majority in the New Mexico Senate since 1988, and currently outnumber Republicans in the chamber by a 26-16 margin.

However, the Senate Democratic caucus has undergone a facelift over the last several election cycles, as several moderate Democrats were ousted by more progressive challengers in the 2020 primary election.

Wirth avoided such political challenges since winning election to the Senate in 2008 鈥� he previously served four-plus years in the House 鈥� as his Santa Fe-based district was the state鈥檚 as of the last round of redistricting in 2021.

He also largely avoided controversy during his time in the Legislature, though Wirth faced political pressure last year for resisting a push to include the passage of interstate medical compacts on the agenda of an October 2025 special session.

Lawmakers ultimately approved compacts for physicians and social workers during this year鈥檚 30-day session, but proposals for other medical professions stalled in the Senate.

Senate Democrats are expected to vote on a new leadership team for the next two years during a closed-door caucus meeting later this year.

Wirth said he plans to provide assistance to whoever is selected as his successor, but also said he plans to get to work on bills dealing with energy and environmental issues over the next two-plus years.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 plan on sitting in the back row and doing nothing,鈥� said Wirth.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.