1996 New Mexico Senate election

The 1996 New Mexico Senate election was held on November 5, 1996, to determine which party would control the New Mexico Senate for the following four years in the 43rd New Mexico Legislature. All 42 seats in the New Mexico Senate were up for election. Prior to the election, 27 seats were held by Democrats and 15 seats were held by Republicans. The general election saw Republicans flip a two seats, thereby meaning that Democrats retained their majority in the State Senate.^[1][2]

1. District 2: Christine Donisthorpe retired.

1. District 5: Emilio Naranjo lost renomination to Arthur Rodarte.
2. District 11: Tom R. Benavides lost renomination to Linda M. Lopez.

1. District 10: Janice D. Paster lost re-election to Ramsay Gorham.

1. District 9: Virgil O. Rhodes lost re-election to Pauline Eisenstadt.

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. District 9, 3.02% (gain)
2. District 10, 5.08% (gain)