New Mexico voters Tuesday are deciding whether to keep Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's appellate court appointees on the bench.
In the Supreme Court race, newly appointed Justice Paul Kennedy faces Democrat Barbara Vigil, a state district judge from Santa Fe.
Court of Appeals Judge Miles Hanisee is being challenged by Democrat Monica Zamora, a district judge in Albuquerque.
With the election, the governor has an opportunity to leave an imprint on two courts that resolve appeals and set legal precedents. However, GOP court candidates have historically found it difficult to win in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans.
Only three Republicans have been elected to the Court of Appeals and none to the Supreme Court since New Mexico adopted is current system for selecting judges nearly 25 years ago.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.