The post-session, pre-election Roundhouse merry-go-round continues.

Capitol Report New Mexico has learned that Rep. Thomas Garcia (D-Ocaté) is thinking about stepping down from the House of Representatives to challenge fellow Democrat Pete Campos of Las Vegas for Campos’ state Senate seat in District 8.

Rep. Garcia has served House District 68 since 2007 but in the new reapportionment plan that goes into effect, Garcia’s district disappears and is consolidated into a refigured House District 40, which is held by Rep. Nick Salazar (D-Ohkay Owingeh). Should Garcia run against Salazar, the loser in the June primary is out of the Roundhouse.

But Garcia is considering resigning from his House seat to take on fellow Democrat, Sen. Campos, in Senate District 8.

Garcia told Capitol Report New Mexico on Thursday morning (March 1) that “right now I’m gathering petitions for House District 40″ but confirmed he is thinking about running for the Senate. “With redistricting, I’m keeping everything open,” Garcia said, adding, “no final decisions have been made.”

Should Garcia challenge of Campos, it figures to be one of the most compelling primary races this year.

First, it would pit two legislators who work in education: Garcia is the superintendent for Mora Independent Schools while Campos is the president of Luna Community College.

The race would also feature two Hispanic legislators in northern New Mexico — Campos, who has been in the Senate for 21 years, and Garcia, who ran unopposed in his last re-election campaign.

If Garcia withdraws from the House race, the 82-year-old Salazar who has served in the Roundhouse for 40 years, will doubtless breathe a sigh of relief.

For that matter, so would the entire Republican delegation in the House because Garcia is famous (or infamous, depending on your tastes) for his Socratic debating technique on the House floor. His rapid-fire delivery and ability to dissect debate for long periods of time have earned him quite a reputation.

All candidates for statewide races have to file with the Secretary of State’s office by March 20.

Friday’s news is just the latest in what figures to be a big shakeup in the legislature.

Earlier Friday, blogger Heath Haussamen revealed that another state senator — Democrat Cynthia Nava of Las Cruces — is stepping down after 19 years and Rep. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) will give up his House seat to run as Nava’s replacement in Senate District 31.

Nava is the sixth member of the 42-member state Senate to resign — joining Democrat Eric Griego of Albuquerque (who is running for the US Congress), Republican Vernon Asbill of Carlsbad, Republican Clint Harden of Clovis, Democrat Dede Feldman of Albuquerque and Republican Mark Boitano of Albuquerque.