ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico's voters have decided to get rid of embattled Secretary of State Mary Herrera.

The Democrat has been hampered by allegations of misconduct throughout her bid for re-election, and Republican challenger Dianna Duran has spent much of the campaign reminding voters about the troubles in Herrera's office.

Unofficial returns Tuesday night showed Duran ahead with 60 percent of the vote with 57 percent of precincts reporting.

With Duran, the GOP claims the secretary of state's office for the first time since 1930.

Herrera was accused earlier this year of ordering employees to collect signatures for her re-election campaign and soliciting donations from businesses that contract with the state to support training seminars for county clerks' staff.

Herrera denied any wrongdoing.



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