1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election

1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election

← 1968 November 3, 1970 1974 →
 
Nominee Bruce King Pete Domenici
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 148,835 134,640
Percentage 51.26% 46.37%

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.

Primary election

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Democratic primary

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The Democratic primary was won by state representative Bruce King.

Campaign

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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

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Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bruce King 62,718 48.94%
Democratic Jack Daniels 47,523 37.08%
Democratic Alexander Sceresse 17,918 13.98%
Total votes 128,159 100.00%

Republican primary

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

Results

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Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Pete Domenici 25,881 45.99%
Republican Stephen C. Helbing 13,265 23.57%
Republican Edward M. Hartman 5,309 9.43%
Republican Tom Clear 5,262 9.35%
Republican Junio Lopez 4,272 7.59%
Republican Edward V. Balcomb 2,289 4.07%
Total votes 56,278 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bruce King 148,835 51.26% +1.96%
Republican Pete Domenici 134,640 46.37% −3.84%
Independent John A. Salazar 4,652 1.60%
People's Constitutional Wilfredo Sedillo 2,237 0.77% +0.29%
Scattering 11 0.00%
Majority 14,195 4.89%
Total votes 290,375 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing +5.80%

Results by county

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County Bruce King
Democratic
Pete V. Domenici
Republican
John A. Salazar
Independent
Wilfredo Sedillo
PCP
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # % # %
Bernalillo 40,973 43.65% 49,882 53.14% 2,276 2.42% 725 0.77% -8,909 -9.49% 93,864[a]
Catron 638 62.00% 382 37.12% 3 0.29% 6 0.58% 256 24.88% 1,029
Chaves 4,887 41.22% 6,834 57.65% 49 0.41% 85 0.72% -1,947 -16.42% 11,855
Colfax 2,418 55.57% 1,860 42.75% 48 1.10% 25 0.57% 558 12.82% 4,351
Curry 4,679 55.92% 3,642 43.53% 12 0.14% 34 0.41% 1,037 12.39% 8,367
De Baca 647 68.39% 289 30.55% 6 0.63% 4 0.42% 358 37.84% 946
Doña Ana 8,751 53.22% 7,416 45.10% 144 0.88% 133 0.81% 1,335 8.12% 16,444
Eddy 7,129 57.58% 5,127 41.41% 48 0.39% 77 0.62% 2,002 16.17% 12,381
Grant 4,435 61.84% 2,597 36.21% 84 1.17% 56 0.78% 1,838 25.63% 7,172
Guadalupe 1,206 58.40% 844 40.87% 4 0.19% 11 0.53% 362 17.53% 2,065
Harding 312 47.20% 341 51.59% 4 0.61% 4 0.61% -29 -4.39% 661
Hidalgo 925 70.77% 371 28.39% 3 0.23% 8 0.61% 554 42.39% 1,307
Lea 7,375 57.68% 5,320 41.60% 34 0.27% 58 0.45% 2,055 16.07% 12,787
Lincoln 1,199 46.80% 1,336 52.15% 17 0.66% 10 0.39% -137 -5.35% 2,562
Los Alamos 2,230 37.47% 3,466 58.24% 225 3.78% 30 0.50% -1,236 -20.77% 5,951
Luna 1,911 56.89% 1,419 42.24% 9 0.27% 20 0.60% 492 14.65% 3,359
McKinley 4,295 52.60% 3,613 44.25% 125 1.53% 132 1.62% 682 8.35% 8,165
Mora 1,084 55.25% 850 43.32% 23 1.17% 5 0.25% 234 11.93% 1,962
Otero 4,423 52.87% 3,676 43.94% 189 2.26% 78 0.93% 747 8.93% 8,366
Quay 2,306 60.99% 1,440 38.09% 11 0.29% 24 0.63% 866 22.90% 3,781
Rio Arriba 5,379 62.58% 3,030 35.25% 138 1.61% 49 0.57% 2,349 27.33% 8,596
Roosevelt 2,340 54.30% 1,916 44.47% 24 0.56% 29 0.67% 424 9.84% 4,309
San Juan 5,491 46.29% 5,982 50.43% 214 1.80% 176 1.48% -491 -4.14% 11,863
San Miguel 3,876 54.50% 2,952 41.51% 204 2.87% 80 1.12% 924 12.99% 7,112
Sandoval 3,239 64.72% 1,626 32.49% 98 1.96% 42 0.84% 1,613 32.23% 5,005
Santa Fe 11,147 60.47% 6,805 36.92% 386 2.09% 93 0.50% 4,342 23.56% 18,433[b]
Sierra 1,295 52.69% 1,115 45.36% 17 0.69% 31 1.26% 180 7.32% 2,458
Socorro 1,971 49.36% 1,974 49.44% 33 0.83% 15 0.38% -3 -0.08% 3,993
Taos 3,175 56.24% 2,363 41.86% 61 1.08% 45 0.80% 812 14.38% 5,645[c]
Torrance 1,566 67.01% 737 31.54% 19 0.81% 15 0.64% 829 35.47% 2,337
Union 1,143 60.28% 731 38.55% 4 0.21% 18 0.95% 412 21.73% 1,896
Valencia 6,390 56.28% 4,704 41.43% 140 1.23% 119 1.05% 1,686 14.85% 11,353
Total 148,835 51.26% 134,640 46.37% 4,652 1.60% 2,237 0.77% 14,195 4.89% 290,375

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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Notes

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

References

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  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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