Six House members tried to move up and four of them failed
Part of the reason that 20 new members will take seats in the state House of Representatives next week has to do with the Senate.
Six House members gave up their seats to run for the Senate last year.
The drudgery of campaigns was one reason behind all the attempted moves from the House to the Senate.
Senate terms are four years, compared to two years in the House. That means the demands of fundraising and campaigning are not constant for senators.
But most who tried to make the jump to those green Senate pastures failed. It broke down this way:
Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces -- Cervantes, above, won election to the Senate, replacing fellow Democrat Cynthia Nava, who retired.
Rep. David Chavez, R-Los Lunas -- He lost in the general election to Democrat Michael Sanchez, the Senate majority leader. Chavez's landslide defeat occurred even though Republican Gov. Susana Martinez made sure money and political muscle poured into his campaign.
Rep. Eleanor Chavez, D-Albuquerque -- She lost a primary election to Michael Padilla, who went on to win the Senate seat vacated by Eric Griego. Griego ran unsuccessfully for Congress.
Rep. David Doyle, R-Corrales -- He lost in the general election to Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales.
Rep. Thomas Garcia, D-Ocate -- Garcia lost a primary to a sitting senator, Democrat Pete Campos of Las Vegas. In Garcia's case, redistricting factored into his decision. He would have had to run against 40-year Rep. Nick Salazar had he tried to remain in the House.
Rep. Bill O'Neill, D-Albuquerque -- He won election to the Senate, replacing Democrat Dede Feldman, who retired. O'Neill, who squeaked through in his House re-election campaign in 2010, moved to a Senate district more friendly to Democrats.
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