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County results Johnson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% King: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in New Mexico |
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The 1994 New Mexico gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1994, for the four-year term beginning on January 1, 1995. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor ran on a ticket as running mates.
Incumbent Democrat Bruce King ran for a fourth term with Patricia Madrid as a running mate, losing to Republican nominees Gary Johnson, a businessman, and Walter Bradley, a former state senator. Former Lieutenant Governor Roberto Mondragón ran with Steven Schmidt as the nominees of the Green Party, receiving 10.4 percent of the vote.
The election was marked by the surprising rise of Republican Gary Johnson, the 41-year-old owner of one of the state's largest construction companies. Johnson, who had never before held elected office, upset a crowded Republican primary field by a margin of fewer than 1,300 votes. With the state's non-Republicans split between the centrist King and progressive Mondragón, King failed to gain a majority and Johnson won the election with 49.8% of the vote. [1] This is the last time a governor of New Mexico lost re-election.
King faced a tough renomination campaign, being challenged by incumbent Lieutenant Governor Casey Luna, who had a falling out with King in 1993 over King's refusal to give Luna a larger role in King's administration. [2] Former New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Jim Baca also challenged King.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bruce King (incumbent) | 76,039 | 38.8 | |
Democratic | Casey Luna | 71,364 | 36.5 | |
Democratic | Jim Baca | 48,401 | 24.7 | |
Total votes | 195,804 | 100 |
Cheney ran on a platform highlighting cracking down on violent crime, repealing the gasoline tax, and lowering public spending. [4] During the campaign, he controversially changed his legal name from Richard to "Dick". Opponents including John Dendahl stated that people voting in the polls would confuse Cheney with the former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney from Wyoming, improving his chances of winning the primary. Public polling after the change showed that his numbers increased significantly. [5]
At the state convention, Cheney received 49% of the vote against 29% for Dendahl and 22% for Johnson. [6]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Gary Johnson | 32,091 | 34.5 | |
Republican | Dick Cheney | 30,811 | 33.1 | |
Republican | John Dendahl | 18,007 | 19.4 | |
Republican | David F. Cargo | 12,105 | 13.0 | |
Republican | Keith Russell Judd (write-in) | 57 | 0.1 | |
Total votes | 93,071 | 100 |
Bruce King, the Democratic three-term incumbent, began the general election with the most funding and name recognition.[ citation needed ] King was a career politician who had first been elected to the Santa Fe County Commission in 1954, when Gary Johnson was just one year old. [7] King also had the support of the Gold Boot Club, a business-backed political coalition that channeled thousands of dollars to his campaign. [8]
King's quest for an unprecedented fourth term faced obstacles from the left and the right. From the left, King was challenged by Green Party nominee Roberto Mondragón. Mondragón was a populist former Democrat, who had served as Lieutenant Governor from 1971 to 1975 and in the state House from 1979 to 1983.[ citation needed ] Mondragón had a knack for appealing to both progressive whites and working-class Hispanics, and attacked King for his cushy relationships with big business. [8]
Gary Johnson was the nominee of New Mexico's Republican Party, a statewide party that had won just one gubernatorial election since 1970. Johnson faced the challenge of keeping together his Republican base while appealing to independents and Democrats frustrated with King. Johnson campaigned as a political outsider and self-made entrepreneur.[ citation needed ] In college, Johnson had worked as a door-to-door handyman, a business that gradually expanded into Big J Enterprises. By 1999, the company employed over 1,000 people and was worth several million dollars. [9] Johnson avoided then-divisive social issues like abortion and gay rights, and focused his campaign on pocketbook issues like taxes and the state budget. Johnson touted his experience in the business world of balancing budgets while growing his company, and promised to bring that experience to state government. [10]
In November, Gary Johnson won the election with just under 50% of the vote, while King got almost 40% and Mondragón pulled in just over 10%.
Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bruce King (D) | Gary Johnson (R) | Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Santa Fe New Mexican | November 3, 1994 | — | — | 34% | 46% | — | — |
Albuquerque Journal | October 23, 1994 | — | — | 35% | 40% | — | — |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Gary Johnson | 232,945 | 49.8% | +4.7% | |
Democratic | Bruce King (incumbent) | 186,686 | 39.9% | -14.7% | |
Green | Roberto Mondragón | 47,990 | 10.3% | ||
Plurality | 46,259 | 9.9% | +0.4% | ||
Turnout | 467,621 | ||||
Republican gain from Democratic | Swing | ||||
David Francis Cargo was an American attorney and politician who served as the 22nd governor of New Mexico between 1967 and 1971.
Roberto A. Mondragón is an American politician, musician, and activist. He was the Green Party nominee for governor of New Mexico in 1994, receiving 10.4% of the vote, and coming third, behind winner Gary Johnson and incumbent Democratic candidate Bruce King. Prior to this, he served as lieutenant governor of New Mexico from 1971 to 1975 and from 1979 to 1983, and as a state representative. He currently serves as special water projects coordinator for the New Mexico state engineer's office and the Interstate Stream Commission. Mondragón later returned to the Democratic Party.
John Dendahl was an American business executive, Republican politician, and syndicated columnist from New Mexico. While attending the University of Colorado, he led two NCAA champion skiing teams, won three individual NCAA titles and was a member of the U.S. ski team at the 1960 Winter Olympics. He was inducted into the University of Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame and the New Mexico Ski Hall of Fame.
The Republican Party of New Mexico is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New Mexico. It is headquartered in Albuquerque and led by Chair Steve Pearce, Vice Chair Frank Trambley, Secretary Mari Trujillo Spinelli, and Treasurer David Chavez.
James R. Baca is an American politician from New Mexico. A member of the Democratic Party, Baca served twice as New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands from 1983 to 1987 and from 1991 to 1993 and as 27th mayor of Albuquerque from 1997 to 2001.
Henry C. "Howie" Morales is an American politician and educator serving as the 30th lieutenant governor of New Mexico. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the New Mexico State Senator from the 28th district, which includes Catron County, Grant County and Socorro County, from 2008 until 2019.
The 2002 New Mexico gubernatorial election was a race for the Governor of New Mexico. The winner of the election held on November 5, 2002, served from January 1, 2003 until January 1, 2007. Incumbent Republican Gary Johnson was term limited. Former U.S. Congressman Bill Richardson won the election. Green Party nominee David Bacon received over 5% of the total vote, including over 11% in Santa Fe County, which was his best showing.
The 1998 New Mexico gubernatorial election was a contest to elect the next governor of New Mexico. The winner of the election would serve a term from January 1, 1999 until January 1, 2003. Incumbent Republican Governor Gary Johnson was re-elected to a second term. As of 2023, this is the last time a non-Hispanic was elected governor of New Mexico.
The 2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a sixth term. Democratic U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich won the open seat.
The 2014 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of New Mexico. Incumbent Republican Governor Susana Martínez successfully ran for re-election to a second term in office, defeating Democratic Attorney General Gary King, son of former governor Bruce King.
The 2014 United States Senate election in New Mexico was held on November 4, 2014 to elect a member of the United States Senate. Incumbent Democratic Senator Tom Udall won reelection to a second term. As of 2023, this is the last time that a non-Hispanic won the Class 2 Senate seat in New Mexico.
A general election was held in the U.S. state of New Mexico on November 4, 2014. All of New Mexico's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of New Mexico's three seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on June 3, 2014.
The 2018 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of New Mexico, concurrently with the election of New Mexico's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various local elections.
Richard P. Cheney is an American politician and a former Republican member of the New Mexico House of Representatives.
The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the three U.S. representatives from the state of New Mexico, one from each of the state's three congressional districts. The elections coincided with the gubernatorial election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.
A general election was held in the U.S. state of New Mexico on November 6, 2018. All of New Mexico's executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of New Mexico's three seats in the United States House of Representatives.
The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the three U.S. representatives from the state of New Mexico, one from each of the state's three congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections.
A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for New Mexico's 3rd congressional district was held on May 13, 1997. Republican Bill Redmond defeated Democrat Eric Serna in a result which flipped this heavily Democratic seat to the Republican column. Redmond replaced Bill Richardson, who resigned from his seat in the House after he was appointed by Bill Clinton to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
The 2022 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of New Mexico. The election coincided with various other federal and state elections. Primary elections were held on June 7.
The 2022 New Mexico State Auditor election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the next New Mexico State Auditor. Incumbent Democratic Auditor Brian Colón did not seek re-election, and instead opted to unsuccessfully run for Attorney General of New Mexico.
Bruce King began his political career in 1954 when he won a seat on the Santa Fe County Commission.
Prior to that, he was the CEO and founder of Big J Enterprises, a business that grew out of his door-to-door work as a handyman during college. By the time he sold the company in 1999, it had more than 1,000 employees and was a multimillion-dollar enterprise.