Sen. Michael Sanchez (D-Belen)

State Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez (D-Belen) — one of the most powerful members of the New Mexico legislature — is in an Albuquerque hospital Wednesday (July 11) after undergoing a procedure to clear a blocked artery and is expected to make a complete recovery.

There aren’t many specifics in this statement released by Sanchez’s chief of staff, Lorraine Montoya-Vigil:

“Senator Sanchez is resting comfortably following a medical procedure that took place yesterday to clear a blocked artery. Doctors expect him to make a complete recovery. It is anticipated that he will be released from Presbyterian Hospital tomorrow, July 12, 2012. Although he is anxious to be discharged, he is in good spirits. He and his family would like to thank the many friends and colleagues who have reached out and assure them he is doing well. ”

We have a phone call into Montoya-Vigil and as soon as we get more details, we’ll pass them on.

On the senator’s Facebook page, he posted on Wednesday afternoon:

Sanchez, who turns 62 in three weeks, has served in the legislature since 1993 and is running for re-election this November against Republican challenger and former member of the state House of Representatives David Chavez.

A frequent critic of Gov. Susana Martinez, Sanchez in his role as Senate floor leader determines the order in which bills are heard on the floor of the chamber.

Update 7/12: Chief of staff Montoya-Vigil gave Capitol Report New Mexico a few more details Thursday morning, saying that Sen. Sanchez experienced chest pains while in his law office in Los Lunas on Tuesday. Doctors performed an angioplasty Wednesday and “He’s doing really well,” Montoya-Vigil said, adding that Sanchez expects to be back at work on Monday and plans to attend a Legislative Committee meeting hearing in Santa Fe on July 31.