Ben Lujan re-elected speaker of the House

Rep. Ben Lujan of Santa Fe has just been chosen by House members to continue as their leader.

On a vote of 43-27, House members voted to keep Lujan as speaker. The other votes went to House Minority Leader Tom Taylor of Farmington, a Republican.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to continue to serve as your speaker of the House,” Lujan said shortly after being sworn in.

The vote was expected. The formal vote comes a month after House Democrats, in a secret caucus, voted to keep Lujan as speaker despite a challenge from Majority Leader Ken Martinez of Grants.

It was Martinez who nominated Lujan, saying doing so was “a great honor.”