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Democrats keep New Mexico Senate seat with Luján victory

  SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján has won the U.S. Senate race in New Mexico to succeed retiring Sen. Tom Udall. The six-term congressman from northern New Mexico defeated Republican former television meteorologist Mark Ronchetti and Libertarian scientist Bob Walsh. Luján rose to the No. 4 position in Democratic House leadership and ran uncontested in the primary before being endorsed by Udall in the general election. Luján’s election marks a resurgence of Latino political leadership in a state with the largest share of Hispanic residents. His campaign emphasized support for Affordable Care Act consumer health protections and highlighted President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.