1998 New Mexico gubernatorial election

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1998 New Mexico gubernatorial election
Flag of New Mexico.svg
  1994 November 3, 1998 2002  
  Garyjohnsonphoto.JPG MartinChavez (cropped).jpg
Nominee Gary Johnson Martin Chávez
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Walter Bradley Diane Denish
Popular vote271,948226,755
Percentage54.5%45.5%

1998 New Mexico gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Johnson:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Chávez:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Governor before election

Gary Johnson
Republican

Elected Governor

Gary Johnson
Republican

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 (now Libertarian) 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.

Contents

In his campaign, Johnson promised to continue the policies of his first term: improving schools; cutting state spending, taxes, and bureaucracy; and frequent use of his veto and line-item veto power. [1] Fielding a strong Hispanic candidate in a 40% Hispanic state, the Democrats were expected to oust Johnson, [2] but Johnson won by a margin of 55% to 45%. [3] This made him the first governor of New Mexico to serve two successive four-year terms after term limits were expanded to two terms in 1991. [4] Johnson made the promotion of a school voucher system a "hallmark issue" of his second term. [5] This election is the first time since 1968 that an incumbent Republican Governor of New Mexico was re-elected or won re-election.

Democratic Party

Candidates

Primary results

June 2, 1998 Democratic primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Martin J. Chávez82,14748.1
Democratic Gary K. King51,84730.4
Democratic Jerry Apodaca16,3039.6
Democratic Robert E. Vigil10,4836.1
Democratic Reese P. Fullerton5,8003.4
Democratic Ben Chavez4,1272.4
Democratic Frances Salas (write-in)29nil
Total votes170,736 100

Republican Party

Candidates

Primary results

June 2, 1998 Republican primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Gary Johnson (incumbent)64,669100
Total votes64,669 100

Campaign

In his campaign, Johnson promised to continue the policies of his first term: improving schools; cutting state spending, taxes, and bureaucracy; and frequent use of his veto and line-item veto power. [1] Fielding a strong Hispanic candidate in a 40% Hispanic state, the Democrats were expected to oust Johnson, [2] but Johnson won by a margin of 55% to 45%. [3] This made him the first governor of New Mexico to serve two successive four-year terms after term limits were expanded to two terms in 1991. [4] Johnson made the promotion of a school voucher system a "hallmark issue" of his second term. [5]

Election results

New Mexico gubernatorial election, 1998 [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Gary Johnson (incumbent) 271,948 54.5% +4.7%
Democratic Martin Chávez 226,75545.5%+5.6%
Majority45,1939.06%-0.8%
Turnout 498,703
Republican hold Swing

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References

  1. 1 2 Ayres, B. Drummond Jr. (October 23, 1998). "Democrats Renew Push in New Mexico". The New York Times . Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "America's boldest governor". The Economist . April 15, 1999. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "CNN election results 1998" . Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Lynch, Michael W. (January 2001). "America's Most Dangerous Politician – Republican Governor of New Mexico Gary E. Johnson". Reason . Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Janofsky, Michael (January 31, 2000). "Parents Lead Way as States Debate School Vouchers". The New York Times . Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Main/Elections/1998/98General/rsult001.HTM [ dead link ]

See also