Majority Democrats in the New Mexico Senate have chosen Sen. Michael Padilla over two rivals as their whip.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Democratic senators picked the 42-year-old Albuquerque businessman on the second ballot during voting Sunday.
Sens. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces and Linda Lopez of Albuquerque also ran for the whip position being vacated by Sen. Tim Keller of Albuquerque. Keller resigned from the Senate following his election as state auditor.
Senate Democrats also decided that Sen. Michael Sanchez of Belen will continue as majority leader while Sen. Jacob Candelaria of Albuquerque will return as caucus chairman.
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