ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - An executive at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has been elected as the new chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico.

The Albuquerque Journal reports (https://bit.ly/2hlq61c) that Ryan Cangiolosi won the two-year chairmanship over Albuquerque businessman John Rockwell in a 251-156 vote by party central committee members.

He replaces Debbie Maestas, who did not seek re-election.

Cangiolosi is a former executive director of the state party.

He says he planned to convene a meeting of top elected GOP officials, after the party suffered heavy state-level defeats in last month’s election.

Cangiolosi also vowed to increase the GOP’s base, ramp up fundraising, and convince Democratic and independent voters to register as Republicans.

New Mexico Democrats will elect their new party leaders in April 2017.

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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, https://www.abqjournal.com

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