ALBUQUERQUE -- Two longtime state lawmakers and a GOP House leader are among the handful of New Mexico legislators who lost their seats in Tuesday's primary election.

Democratic Sens. Shannon Robinson and James Taylor and Democratic Rep. Dan Silva lost their Albuquerque seats to challengers.

The No. 2 Republican House leader, Rep. Dan Foley, lost his southeastern New Mexico seat, while Democrat John Pena lost the Gallup-area House seat he was appointed to in 2007.

Robinson, who has been in the Senate since 1989, lost to business consultant Tim Keller, who billed himself as a progressive Democrat. Silva, who has been in the House since 1987, was defeated by Eleanor Chavez, the New Mexico director of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees 1199.

Taylor, despite having the support of Gov. Bill Richardson, lost to former Albuquerque city councilor Eric Griego. Taylor has been in the Senate since 2004.

Pena, a former Gallup mayor who was appointed last year to fill a vacancy, lost to Sandra Jeff in a four-way contest.

Overall, 13 members of the New Mexico Senate and 11 House members faced challengers in the primary.

For Foley, the unofficial results mean "it's time to move on." Foley called challenger Dennis Kintigh, a retired FBI agent, to congratulate him on the win Tuesday night and vowed to support his fellow Republican in November's general election.

Foley, who has represented parts of Chaves, Lincoln and Otero counties since 1999, said he plans to meet with the county commissions about possibly resigning this summer so Kintigh can be appointed and run as an incumbent in November.

"It's not about me, it's about District 57," Foley said.

Foley said the Legislature is expected to take up several important issues in the next session and that Kintigh would benefit from discussions lawmakers will have during the interim.

Foley said he plans to spend more time with his family and friends and will no longer have to worry about what other people think about him. He added that he's honored to have served in the House and cherishes the friendships he made there.

Another Roswell incumbent, Sen. Rod Adair, was more fortunate Tuesday night. He beat challenger Rory McMinn, a former member of the Public Regulation Commission, according to unofficial results.

There's no Democrat running for Adair's Senate seat.

Kintigh will face a Democratic candidate in the general election.

Foley and Adair's races turned into big-spending contests when Roswell oilman Mark Murphy - along with his family members, business interests and a political group he heads - funneled more than $340,000 to Foley and Adair's challengers.

The heated contests - complete with hard-hitting mailings and TV advertisements - stemmed from a political feud within the GOP in Chaves County. Murphy claimed the incumbents are embarrassments, while Adair claimed Murphy was out for revenge over a past House race in which they supported different candidates.

Foley said Tuesday night that the Chaves County GOP is strong, and he challenged Murphy to put as much effort into November's general election as he did the primary.

Foley said the Republican Party has a chance to pick up at least a couple of seats this election cycle.