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2006 New Mexico gubernatorial election

(Redirected from New Mexico gubernatorial election, 2006)

The 2006 New Mexico gubernatorial election was a race for the governor of New Mexico held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic governor Bill Richardson was running for re-election. He faced Republican John Dendahl in the general election and won by a landslide. As of 2024, this was the last time a male candidate was elected Governor of New Mexico.

2006 New Mexico gubernatorial election
← 2002 November 7, 2006 2010 →
 
Nominee Bill Richardson John Dendahl
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Diane Denish Sue Wilson Beffort
Popular vote 384,806 174,364
Percentage 68.82% 31.18%
County results
Richardson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Dendahl:      50–60%
Governor before election

Bill Richardson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bill Richardson
Democratic

The scale of Richardson's lopsided victory was nearly unprecedented in the traditionally competitive state. Richardson's 68.82% share of the vote is the highest achieved by any gubernatorial candidate in the state by a wide margin, beating the previous record of 60.21% set in 1964. Richardson came within six votes of sweeping every county the state, a feat that has never been achieved in any gubernatorial (or presidential) election in the state.

Primary election

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Democratic party

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (incumbent) 107,720 99.64%
Democratic Anselmo A. Chávez (write-in) 388 0.36%
Total votes 108,108 100.00%

Republican party

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Candidates

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  • James R. Damron, physician
  • George Brent Bailey Jr., educator and minister

Results

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James R. Damron 52,888 99.58%
Republican George Bailey (write-in) 225 0.42%
Total votes 53,113 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Campaign

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James R. Damron easily won the Republican primary, but withdrew from the race on June 17, 2006, due to a lack of fundraising. John Dendahl was appointed by the Republican State Central Committee to replace him. There were no general election debates between the two candidates.

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[2] Solid D November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[3] Safe D November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[4] Safe D November 2, 2006
Real Clear Politics[5] Safe D November 6, 2006

Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Bill
Richardson (D) 		John
Dendahl (R) 		Other Undecided
Research & Polling Inc. of Albuquerque[6] September 25–28, 2006 — — 60% 28% — —
Rasmussen Reports[7] September 7, 2006 — — 61% 26% — —
Research & Polling Inc. of Albuquerque[6] August 25–31, 2006 — — 57% 28% — —
Rasmussen Reports[8] June 26, 2006 — — 56% 32% — —

Results

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2006 New Mexico gubernatorial election[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bill Richardson (incumbent) 384,806 68.82% +13.33%
Republican John Dendahl 174,364 31.18% −7.86%
Majority 210,442 37.63%
Total votes 559,170 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing +21.19%

Results by county

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Richardson was the first Democrat to win Lincoln County since John E. Miles in 1940. He was also the first Democrat to carry Chaves County, Los Alamos County, and San Juan County since Jack M. Campbell in 1964.

This is the most recent election in which a Democrat has carried Chaves County, Colfax County, Curry County, De Baca County, Eddy County, Harding County, Hidalgo County, Lea County, Lincoln County, Luna County, Otero County, Quay County, Roosevelt County, San Juan County, Sierra County, Torrance County, Union County, and Valencia County.

County Bill Richardson
Democratic 		John Dendahl
Republican 		Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # %
Bernalillo 133,195 68.17% 62,205 31.83% 70,990 36.33% 195,400
Catron 857 49.83% 863 50.17% -6 -0.35% 1,720
Chaves 9,060 57.49% 6,700 42.51% 2,360 14.97% 15,760
Cibola 4,698 75.97% 1,486 24.03% 3,212 51.94% 6,184
Colfax 3,125 64.39% 1,728 35.61% 1,397 28.79% 4,853
Curry 5,771 63.35% 3,339 36.65% 2,432 26.70% 9,110
De Baca 559 62.67% 333 37.33% 226 25.34% 892
Doña Ana 27,510 70.82% 11,335 29.18% 16,175 41.64% 38,845
Eddy 8,539 60.25% 5,633 39.75% 2,906 20.51% 14,172
Grant 7,502 72.55% 2,838 27.45% 4,664 45.11% 10,430
Guadalupe 1,546 84.30% 288 15.70% 1,258 68.59% 1,834
Harding 433 72.65% 163 27.35% 270 45.30% 596
Hidalgo 1,037 71.12% 421 28.88% 616 42.25% 1,458
Lea 6,473 55.13% 5,268 44.87% 1,205 10.26% 11,741
Lincoln 4,017 59.91% 2,688 40.09% 1,329 19.82% 6,705
Los Alamos 5,670 65.94% 2,929 34.06% 2,741 31.88% 8,599
Luna 4,284 70.33% 1,807 29.67% 2,477 40.67% 6,091
McKinley 14,973 86.05% 2,427 13.95% 12,546 72.10% 17,400
Mora 1,738 73.80% 617 26.20% 1,121 47.60% 2,355
Otero 8,271 57.80% 6,039 42.20% 2,232 15.60% 14,310
Quay 2,134 65.86% 1,106 34.14% 1,028 31.73% 3,240
Rio Arriba 8,621 81.46% 1,962 18.54% 6,659 62.92% 10,583
Roosevelt 2,350 57.32% 1,750 42.68% 600 14.63% 4,100
San Juan 18,846 60.08% 12,521 39.92% 6,325 20,16% 31,367
San Miguel 6,884 78.85% 1,847 21.15% 5,037 57.69% 8,731
Sandoval 24,722 67.69% 11,803 32.31% 12,919 35.37% 36,525
Santa Fe 37,649 79.07% 9,965 20.93% 27,684 58.14% 47,614
Sierra 2,445 57.49% 1,808 42.51% 637 14.98% 4,253
Socorro 4,551 72.78% 17,02 27.22% 2,849 45.56% 6,253
Taos 9,937 86.70% 1,524 13.30% 8,413 73.41% 11,461
Torrance 3,280 60.67% 2,126 39.33% 1,154 21.35% 5,406
Union 907 62.42% 546 37.58% 361 24.85% 1,453
Valencia 13,222 66.71% 6,597 33.29% 6,625 33.43% 19,819
Total 384,806 68.82% 174,364 31.18% 210,442 37.63% 559,170

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 6, 2006" (PDF). New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "2006 Governor Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2006.
  3. ^ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "2006 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Research & Polling Inc. of Albuquerque
  7. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  8. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  9. ^ "Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 7, 2006" (PDF). New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
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Campaign websites (Archived)

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