Three of four leadership positions filled Saturday by the Senate Democratic caucus hail from the ABQ metro and the fourth is from Santa Fe. That much ABQ (and city) leadership has seldom been seen in the 42 member Senate now controlled by the Dems 27 to 15.

Also, three of the leadership posts were filled by women—up from two—as nationally 56 percent of  registered women voters now align with the Democrats. 

For several years attorney, former legislator and political analyst Greg Payne has been predicting women would be at the center of the Santa Fe action. Now for the first time women comprise a majority of the state House and there’s their increased presence in Senate leadership:

Rep. Patricia Lundstrom is the first woman to chair the important House Appropriations Committee, Stephanie Garcia Richard is the first female land commissioner, the governorship has been held by women since 2011 and the 10 member NM Court of Appeals now has a majority of women.

While the increase in female leadership was noted, critics of the Senate outcome pointed to the continued decline of Hispanic men in the leadership. They have been drifting away from the Dems at the polls. 

ABQ Sen. Mimi Stewart emerged victorious in a five way race to become the party nominee for Senate President Pro Tem and to play the key role in committee assignments. ABQ's Linda Lopez defeated ABQ Sen. Michael Padilla to replace Stewart as Majority Whip and freshman Senator-elect Brenda McKenna of Corrales was elected caucus chair. She is from Nambe Pueblo. 

Caucus rules require a majority vote and Stewart confirmed she didn't get the win until after multiple ballots. Majority Leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe was re-elected by acclamation, capping off the all-urban leadership. 

Stewart's position must still be ratified by the full Senate in January. As much as some conservatives are pining for a continuation of the coalition of Republicans and conservative-leaning Dems that has controlled the Senate the past decade, under Stewart's leadership the coalition appears headed for the ash heap of history. 

It would take seven Dems to join with the 15 R's to continue the coalition. No political pro we asked could name seven Dems in this reshaped Senate who would bolt. Also, Stewart, known as one of the state's leading liberals, has shown a more pragmatic streak since going to the Senate from the House in 2014. That should also dampen enthusiasm for any coalition. 

The 72 year old Stewart, a 25 year legislative veteran, has not yet signaled her favorite to head the most powerful committee--Senate Finance. She says she wants the committee to be more transparent--and by inference less powerful--than it has been under outgoing Senator John Arthur Smith who accumulated more power as a committee chairman than perhaps anyone in modern history.

Stewart confirmed support in the Senate for legalized marijuana and updating of the state's abortion laws that played a role in defeating conservative-leaning senators in the June primary. On the long-stalled Constitutional Amendment to tap the $20 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund for early childhood education, Stewart, a retired educator, said she is supportive. However, she said the proposal may be tweaked to also include funding for K thru 12. 

The caucus results cheered ABQ city officials with one of them predicting that finally the city will not be thwarted when it comes to capital outlay projects. “We will be getting our fair share now," he opined. Stewart would be the first Pro Tem from ABQ in 15 years. 

The rural depopulation of the past decade has now manifested itself in the Legislature's upper chamber following the increased liberalism of the House.

Rural politics is not through. The election of Republican Yvette Herrell to the southern congressional seat is evidence of that, but its outsized influence in the legislature even as its population shrank is now over. And the coming redistricting should cement the dominance of the cities in the decade ahead. 

Democrats will work to protect their deep blue gains in those cities that have put the state out of reach for the R's in statewide elections. And they will want to do it without a radical shift that could scare voters away. The Senate leadership personalities are mostly old hands who abide by the saying that the Senate is the saucer that cools the hot tea offered up by the House. That liberal tea will no longer go stone cold when it reaches the Senate and while not remaining hot, it will still be warm.    

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