1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election

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1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election
Flag of New Mexico.svg
  1968 November 3, 1970 1974  
  Governor Bruce King.jpg Pete Domenici 1973.jpg
Nominee Bruce King Pete Domenici
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote148,835134,640
Percentage51.26%46.37%

1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
King:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Domenici:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election

David Cargo
Republican

Elected Governor

Bruce King
Democratic

The 1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1970, in order to elect the Governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Republican David Cargo was ineligible to seek a third term as governor. This election was the first in which the governor was elected for a four-year term. Prior to this, the governor was elected to a two-year term, renewable once. This was the last time until 2006 that a Democrat carried Otero County and Sierra County.

Contents

Primary election

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary was won by state representative Bruce King.

Campaign

A major issue in the election was how the University of New Mexico should deal with anti-war protesters. Defenders of the University did so on the grounds of free speech, and opponents argued on the grounds of law and order.

Jack Daniels ran as a moderate liberal candidate, and he became the strongest defender of the University of New Mexico throughout the campaign. King was the other moderate liberal candidate, and he and Daniels agreed on most issues, with them both supporting the University of New Mexico. However, Daniels was more vigorous in his support, constantly advertising and emphasizing that he supported the University's position, while King mostly avoided the issue. [1] On the other hand, Alexander Sceresse attacked the University, calling for law and order. The Democratic primary had above-average turnout, with 54% voting, and King beat Daniels 49%–37%, with Sceresse only getting 14% of the vote. [1] Bruce King then went on to become Governor of New Mexico.

Results

Democratic primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bruce King 62,718 48.94%
Democratic Jack Daniels 47,52337.08%
Democratic Alexander Sceresse17,91813.98%
Total votes128,159 100.00%

Republican primary

The Republican primary was won by Mayor of Albuquerque Pete Domenici.

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Pete Domenici 25,881 45.99%
Republican Stephen C. Helbing13,26523.57%
Republican Edward M. Hartman5,3099.43%
Republican Tom Clear5,2629.35%
Republican Junio Lopez4,2727.59%
Republican Edward V. Balcomb2,2894.07%
Total votes56,278 100.00%

General election

Results

1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Bruce King 148,835 51.26% +1.96%
Republican Pete Domenici 134,64046.37%−3.84%
Independent John A. Salazar4,6521.60%
People's Constitutional Wilfredo Sedillo2,2370.77%+0.29%
Scattering110.00%
Majority14,1954.89%
Total votes290,375 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing +5.80%

Results by county

CountyBruce King
Democratic
Pete V. Domenici
Republican
John A. Salazar
Independent
Wilfredo Sedillo
PCP
MarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %# %# %
Bernalillo 40,97343.65%49,88253.14%2,2762.42%7250.77%-8,909-9.49%93,864 [lower-alpha 1]
Catron 63862.00%38237.12%30.29%60.58%25624.88%1,029
Chaves 4,88741.22%6,83457.65%490.41%850.72%-1,947-16.42%11,855
Colfax 2,41855.57%1,86042.75%481.10%250.57%55812.82%4,351
Curry 4,67955.92%3,64243.53%120.14%340.41%1,03712.39%8,367
De Baca 64768.39%28930.55%60.63%40.42%35837.84%946
Doña Ana 8,75153.22%7,41645.10%1440.88%1330.81%1,3358.12%16,444
Eddy 7,12957.58%5,12741.41%480.39%770.62%2,00216.17%12,381
Grant 4,43561.84%2,59736.21%841.17%560.78%1,83825.63%7,172
Guadalupe 1,20658.40%84440.87%40.19%110.53%36217.53%2,065
Harding 31247.20%34151.59%40.61%40.61%-29-4.39%661
Hidalgo 92570.77%37128.39%30.23%80.61%55442.39%1,307
Lea 7,37557.68%5,32041.60%340.27%580.45%2,05516.07%12,787
Lincoln 1,19946.80%1,33652.15%170.66%100.39%-137-5.35%2,562
Los Alamos 2,23037.47%3,46658.24%2253.78%300.50%-1,236-20.77%5,951
Luna 1,91156.89%1,41942.24%90.27%200.60%49214.65%3,359
McKinley 4,29552.60%3,61344.25%1251.53%1321.62%6828.35%8,165
Mora 1,08455.25%85043.32%231.17%50.25%23411.93%1,962
Otero 4,42352.87%3,67643.94%1892.26%780.93%7478.93%8,366
Quay 2,30660.99%1,44038.09%110.29%240.63%86622.90%3,781
Rio Arriba 5,37962.58%3,03035.25%1381.61%490.57%2,34927.33%8,596
Roosevelt 2,34054.30%1,91644.47%240.56%290.67%4249.84%4,309
San Juan 5,49146.29%5,98250.43%2141.80%1761.48%-491-4.14%11,863
San Miguel 3,87654.50%2,95241.51%2042.87%801.12%92412.99%7,112
Sandoval 3,23964.72%1,62632.49%981.96%420.84%1,61332.23%5,005
Santa Fe 11,14760.47%6,80536.92%3862.09%930.50%4,34223.56%18,433 [lower-alpha 2]
Sierra 1,29552.69%1,11545.36%170.69%311.26%1807.32%2,458
Socorro 1,97149.36%1,97449.44%330.83%150.38%-3-0.08%3,993
Taos 3,17556.24%2,36341.86%611.08%450.80%81214.38%5,645 [lower-alpha 3]
Torrance 1,56667.01%73731.54%190.81%150.64%82935.47%2,337
Union 1,14360.28%73138.55%40.21%180.95%41221.73%1,896
Valencia 6,39056.28%4,70441.43%1401.23%1191.05%1,68614.85%11,353
Total148,83551.26%134,64046.37%4,6521.60%2,2370.77%14,1954.89%290,375

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Notes

  1. Includes 8 write-in votes
  2. Includes 2 write-in votes
  3. Includes 1 write-in vote

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References

  1. 1 2 The 1970 Election in New Mexico (in The 1970 Elections in the West). T. Phillip Wolf. The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 24, No. 2. (June, 1971), pp. 316-324.
  2. 1 2 Richard M. Scammon. America Votes 9, A Handbook of Contemporary American Election Statistics. p. 228. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  3. New Mexico State Records Center & Archives, Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 3, 1970 - State of New Mexico