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 , this was the last time a male candidate was elected Governor of New Mexico.

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 in the state, a feat that has never been achieved in any gubernatorial (or presidential) election in the state.

Primary election Democratic party Candidates Bill Richardson, incumbent governor of New Mexico Anselmo A. Chavez, veteran and perennial candidate

Results

Republican party Candidates James R. Damron, physician George Brent Bailey Jr., educator and minister

Results

General election Candidates Bill Richardson (Democrat), incumbent governor of New Mexico John Dendahl (Republican), former chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico

Campaign 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 Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 6, 2006

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Bill JohnDendahl (R) Other Undecided September 25–28, 2006 — — 60% 28% — —Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 7, 2006 — — 61% 26% — — August 25–31, 2006 — — 57% 28% — —Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 26, 2006 — — 56% 32% — —

Results

By county 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 RichardsonDemocratic John DendahlRepublican Margin Total votes cast # % # % # %Bernalillo133,19568.17%62,20531.83%70,99036.33%195,400Catron85749.83%86350.17%-6-0.35%1,720Chaves9,06057.49%6,70042.51%2,36014.97%15,760Cibola4,69875.97%1,48624.03%3,21251.94%6,184Colfax3,12564.39%1,72835.61%1,39728.79%4,853Curry5,77163.35%3,33936.65%2,43226.70%9,110De Baca55962.67%33337.33%22625.34%892Doña Ana27,51070.82%11,33529.18%16,17541.64%38,845Eddy8,53960.25%5,63339.75%2,90620.51%14,172Grant7,50272.55%2,83827.45%4,66445.11%10,430Guadalupe1,54684.30%28815.70%1,25868.59%1,834Harding43372.65%16327.35%27045.30%596Hidalgo1,03771.12%42128.88%61642.25%1,458Lea6,47355.13%5,26844.87%1,20510.26%11,741Lincoln4,01759.91%2,68840.09%1,32919.82%6,705Los Alamos5,67065.94%2,92934.06%2,74131.88%8,599Luna4,28470.33%1,80729.67%2,47740.67%6,091McKinley14,97386.05%2,42713.95%12,54672.10%17,400Mora1,73873.80%61726.20%1,12147.60%2,355Otero8,27157.80%6,03942.20%2,23215.60%14,310Quay2,13465.86%1,10634.14%1,02831.73%3,240Rio Arriba8,62181.46%1,96218.54%6,65962.92%10,583Roosevelt2,35057.32%1,75042.68%60014.63%4,100San Juan18,84660.08%12,52139.92%6,32520,16%31,367San Miguel6,88478.85%1,84721.15%5,03757.69%8,731Sandoval24,72267.69%11,80332.31%12,91935.37%36,525Santa Fe37,64979.07%9,96520.93%27,68458.14%47,614Sierra2,44557.49%1,80842.51%63714.98%4,253Socorro4,55172.78%17,0227.22%2,84945.56%6,253Taos9,93786.70%1,52413.30%8,41373.41%11,461Torrance3,28060.67%2,12639.33%1,15421.35%5,406Union90762.42%54637.58%36124.85%1,453Valencia13,22266.71%6,59733.29%6,62533.43%19,819Total384,80668.82%174,36431.18%210,44237.63%559,170

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Chaves (largest village: Roswell) Eddy (largest city: Carlsbad) Lincoln (largest city: Ruidoso) Los Alamos (largest city: Los Alamos) Otero (largest city: Alamogordo) San Juan (largest city: Farmington) Sierra (largest city: Truth or Consequences) Torrance (largest city: Moriarty)

See also United States gubernatorial elections, 2006

References

External links Campaign websites (Archived) Bill Richardson John Dendahl