Turnout in N.M.'s Senate race about 28 percent

| The Associated Press

6/4/2008 - 6/4/08

ALBUQUERQUE — Turnout for Tuesday's primary election in New Mexico was higher than in recent primaries.

Democrats and Republicans had a combined turnout of at least 28 percent of registered voters, according to preliminary unoffical returns.

The rate should increase when final, complete returns are canvassed statewide.

At least 31 percent of eligible Republicans — not quite 111,000 — cast ballots in the race for the U.S. Senate nomination.

About 138,000 Democrats voted in the Senate race, or about 25 percent of the party's registered voters.

About 22 percent of Democrats and Republicans voted in the 2006 primary election — a gubernatorial election year. About 23 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2004 primary — a presidential election year.