After 34 years, Tim Jennings outsted by upstart Cliff Pirtle

In an upset that changes the face of the state Senate, Tim Jennings is out and 27-year-old Cliff Pirtle is in.

“It’s really humbling,” the Republican Pirtle told Capitol Report New Mexico as the final votes were delivered in Senate Distrtict 32 in the Roswell area. “It really hasn’t sank in yet.”

Pirtle knocked off Jennings in a tight, expensive and extraordinarily bitter campaign that saw Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and political action committees associated with her target Jennings with negative ads and mailers while Jennings responded by spending nearly $300,000 in response in counterattack ads.

But with 100 percent of the precincts reporting, the results were:

That means the young dairy farmer will replace the Senate Pro Tem who has been a fixture in Santa Fe since 1979.

“Nothing was ever for sure,” Pirtle said of his chances for victory, “but I knew the people here were looking for something new.”

Despite the bruising campaign with Jennings, Pirtle had kind words for the outgoing senator and asked for his guidance as Pirtle heads to the Roundhouse in January.

“I want to say thank you to Sen. Jennings for 34 years of service and I hope I can earn as much respect with constituents as he earned,” Pirtle said.

“I hope he’s willing to give me some advice be a mentor for me … We hope we can move forward to do what’s best for the people in our district.”

Capitol Report New Mexico left a voicemail message with Jennings late Tuesday night. As soon as we hear back from him, we’ll post his reaction.

Jennings was one of two high-profile state Senators that Gov. Martinez had in her sights. While Jennings was defeated, Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez won his bid for re-election, defeating David Chavez in a race every bit as contentious as the Pirtle-Jennings battle. Click here to read about the Sanchez victory.

And for details on the rough and tumble race between Pirtle and Jennings, click here.