New Mexico contributed to the Republican takeover the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday as one of the three freshman Democrats elected two years ago with President Barack Obama lost his seat while another had a close call.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján won a second term representing Northern New Mexico, defeating Farmington Republican Tom Mullins.

"I firmly hope the focus continues to remain on the working people and building the economy up with the working class," Luján said. "That is not a partisan issue."

Luján won 56 percent of the vote compared with 44 percent for Mullins, a petroleum engineer and tea party organizer. Mullins carried 66 percent of the vote in San Juan County, while Luján rolled up a 23,000-vote margin in his Santa Fe County home turf.

The 3rd Congressional District seat has been safe for Democrats for three decades — but with no independent polling in the race this year, there were questions about how Luján would fare amid a national landscape that favored Republicans.

Luján has been a strong supporter of Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but now returns to Congress in the minority party as Democrats lost control of the chamber Tuesday night.

Another Democrat had a much closer election — incumbent Democratic Martin Heinrich was leading Republican businessman Jon Barela by 6,000 votes as of press time — 52 percent to 48 percent.

In Southern New Mexico, Republican Steve Pearce reclaimed his old job Tuesday, beating incumbent Rep. Harry Teague.

Pearce had 57 percent of the vote. Pearce, 63, held the 2nd Congressional District seat for three terms from 2002-08, but left to pursue the U.S. Senate office that opened when Pete Domenici retired.

Two years ago, Democrats swept the House seats. Heinrich became the first Democrat to win the 1st Congressional District seat since it was created in 1968, and Teague's victory in the 2nd District made him the first Democrat to hold that job in 28 years.

During the campaign season, all three Democratic congressmen in New Mexico defended themselves against Republican criticism of votes that supported Obama's agenda. Heinrich, Luján and Teague all voted to support Obama's federal stimulus project.

Heinrich and Luján also voted for Obama's health care bill. Teague split with Democrats on that measure but had to explain his vote in conservative-leaning Southern New Mexico to support Obama's energy plan, sometimes called the "cap-and-trade" bill.

Supporters, including most Democrats, said the legislation would help curb global warming. Opponents, including many Republicans, argued the energy bill would lead to higher electricity, gasoline and heating costs for consumers.

Pearce attacked Teague for cutting health care benefits for employees at his Hobbs-area oilfield services companies.

When Teague first ran for Congress in 2008, he touted his decision to offer his employees' health care, making it a cornerstone of his campaign. But during the campaign, he told voters his business could no longer afford to provide health care amid the struggling national economy.



© Copyright The Santa Fe New Mexican. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.