Click here to live chat with one of our writers between 9am-5pm CST.
United States Senate elections in New Mexico, 2012
 New Mexico's 2012 elections: • U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Other executive offices • State Senate • State House • Ballot measures |
 |
| |
Jeff Bingaman  |
 |
Tossup (As of March 2012) |
| |
| |
 |
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run was March 20, 2012. The primary elections will be held on June 5, 2012.
The election will fill the Class 1 Senate seat, which is currently held by Jeff Bingaman (D). First elected in 1982, Bingaman is not running for re-election in 2012.
Candidates
Democratic Primary
- Hector Balderas: New Mexico auditor[1]
- Martin Heinrich: U.S. Representative[1]
- Withdrawn:
- Andres Valdez: Activist[2]
Republican primary
- Greg Sowards: Previous candidate[3]
- Heather Wilson: Former U.S. Representative[4]
- Withdrawn:
- John Sanchez: New Mexico lieutenant governor[4]
Race rating
Cook Political Report
Each month the Cook Political Report releases race ratings for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House (competitive only) and Governors. There are seven possible designations: [5]
|
Solid Democratic
|
Tossup |
Lean Republican
|
| Cook Political Report Race Rating -- New Mexico Senate | |
|---|---|
| Month | Rating |
| March 22, 2012[6] | |
| March 1, 2012[7] | |
| January 26, 2012[8] | |
| December 22, 2011[9] | |
| December 1, 2011[10] | |
Sabato's Crystal Ball
The University of Virginia's Center for Politics published an article called Sabato's Crystal Ball on March 22, 2012 detailing the 8 races in the Senate in 2012 that will decide the political fate of which party will end up with control in 2013.[11] The seat rated a a toss-up that the Sabato's Crystal Ball believes is most likely to end up Democratic is the Senate seat in New Mexico. The article notes that the state has generally been leaning Democratic and did not become a race with much interest until the incumbent Jeff Bingaman announced he would retire rather than seek re-election in 2012.[11] The Republican challenger Heather Wilson is expected to give Republicans a "fighting chance in a tough state for them".[11]
Election history
2008
On November 4, 2008, Tom Udall was elected to the United States Senate. He defeated Steve Pearce (R).[12]
| United States Senate, New Mexico General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Tom Udall |
61.3% | 505,128 | |
| Republican | Steve Pearce | 38.7% | 318,522 | |
| Total Votes | 823,650 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Jeff Bingaman was re-elected to the United States Senate for a fifth term. He defeated Allen W. McCulloch (R) and Orlin G. Cole (Republican Write-in). [13]
| United States Senate, New Mexico General Election, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Jeff Bingaman Incumbent |
70.6% | 394,365 | |
| Democratic | Allen W. McCulloch | 29.3% | 163,826 | |
| Republican (Write-in) | Orlin G. Cole | 0.1% | 359 | |
| Total Votes | 558,550 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 2012
- United States Senate elections, 2012
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Roll Call "Balderas Enters N.M. Senate Race Against Heinrich," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ KOB "Community activist Andres Valdez plans Senate bid," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ NMPolitics.net "Sowards announces candidacy for Senate," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Roll Call "Republican joining NM Senate primary," Accessed January 6, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "Our Accuracy," Accessed December 12, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 22, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 1, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," January 26, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 27, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 1, 2011
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Center for Politics "Tilting the Toss Ups – the Eight Races That Will Decide the Senate" Accessed April 9, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006"
| |||||||||||||
