A lot of fresh faces will appear at the New Mexico Legislature next year as nearly a third of the state's legislative seats will be turned over to someone new.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that 35 of the Legislature's 112 lawmakers are new to the Legislature, have changed chambers or returned after having served in the past.
That's the biggest turnover since 1985, when there were also 35 fresh faces, according to the Legislative Council Service.
Both 2012 and 1984 were election years for the House and Senate after redistricting.
That can be a time for high turnover, because the once-a-decade redrawing of legislative district lines to even out the population can prompt lawmakers to retire, or jeopardize their re-elections if their districts are significantly changed.
Information from: Albuquerque Journal.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.