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Democrats Expect To Unify After Leadership Race

A race for the top leadership job in the Senate will be decided Tuesday when the Legislature convenes, but Democrats vying for the post say they don't expect the contest to leave lasting wounds within the party during the 60-day session.

Sens. Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces and Pete Campos of Las Vegas are seeking to become the Senate president pro tem and succeed Democrat Tim Jennings of Roswell, who was defeated in the general election last year.

All 42 senators — 25 Democrats and 17 Republicans — get to vote on the chamber's top leader. It's one of the most powerful positions in the Legislature because the Senate president plays a role in deciding committee chairmen in the Senate and assignments on committees for rank-and-file members.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.