2016_New_Mexico_elections
A general election was held in the U.S. state of New Mexico on November 8, 2016. In the presidential election, voters in the state chose five electors to represent them in the Electoral College via popular vote. All three New Mexico seats to the United States House of Representatives were up for election. A special election was held for Secretary of State, along with all seats in both houses of the New Mexico Legislature. Primary elections were held on June 7.
U.S. President
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton | 385,234 | 48.26 |  4.73 | |
| Republican | Donald Trump | 319,667 | 40.04 | 2.80 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson | 74,541 | 9.34 |  5.79 | |
| Green | Jill Stein | 9,879 | 1.24 | 0.90 | |
| Independent | Evan McMullin | 5,825 | 0.73 | ||
| Constitution | Darrell Castle | 1,514 | 0.15 | 0.02 | |
| Socialism and Liberation | Gloria La Riva | 1,184 | 0.15 | ||
| American Delta | Rocky De La Fuente | 475 | 0.06 | ||
| Majority | 65,567 | 8.21 | 1.94 | ||
| Total votes | 798,319 | 100.00 | |||
U.S. House of Representatives
All three incumbents were reelected: Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham of the 1st district, Republican Steve Pearce of the 2nd district, and Democrat Ben Ray Luján of the 3rd district.
Secretary of State (special election)
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County results Toulouse Oliver: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Espinoza: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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On October 22, 2015, incumbent Secretary of State Dianna Duran resigned amid a corruption and campaign law investigation.[2] Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who ran against Duran in 2014, defeated Republican Nora Espinoza to fill the remainder of her term.[3]
Republican primary
Republican Brad Winter, who was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez following Duran's resignation, chose not to run for a full term.[4] Because of this, state representative Nora Espinoza ran unopposed in the primary election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Nora Espinoza | 83,759 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 83,759 | 100.0% | ||
Democratic primary
Bernalillo County clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver was the only Democrat to declare her candidacy, and ran unopposed in the primary election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maggie Toulouse Oliver | 172,837 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 172,837 | 100.0% | ||
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maggie Toulouse Oliver | 433,227 | 56.41% | +8.05% | |
| Republican | Nora Espinoza | 334,733 | 43.59% | -8.05% | |
| Total votes | 767,960 | 100.0% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
New Mexico Legislature
All seats of the New Mexico Legislature were up for election in 2016. The New Mexico Senate has 42 members elected to four-year terms, while the New Mexico House of Representatives has 70 members elected to two-year terms.
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Democrats strengthened their control of the Senate and regained control of the House, securing both legislative chambers.[7][8]
Ballot measures
Constitutional Amendment 1
The New Mexico Denial of Bail Measure is a constitutional amendment that allows courts to deny bail to a defendant charged with a felony, but only if the defendant is deemed a threat to the public. It was designed to retain the right to pretrial release for non-dangerous defendants.[9]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 Yes |
616,887 | 87.23 |
| No | 90,293 | 12.77 |
| Total votes | 707,180 | 100.00 |
| Source: Ballotpedia | ||
Supreme Court
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County results Nakamura: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Vigil: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent justice Judith Nakamura was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez on November 12, 2015 after Justice Richard C. Bosson retired.[10] Justice Nakamura ran to complete the remainder of Justice Bosson's term ending in 2020, and was challenged by Democratic candidate Michael Vigil, the chief judge of the New Mexico Court of Appeals.
General election
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[lower-alpha 1] |
Margin of error |
Judith Nakamura (R) |
Michael Vigil (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research & Polling Inc. | November 1–3, 2016 | 504 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 45% | 45% | 10% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Judith K. Nakamura (incumbent) | 396,303 | 52.00% | |
| Democratic | Michael E. Vigil | 365,790 | 48.00% | |
| Total votes | 762,093 | 100.0% | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Retention election
Incumbent justice Barbara Vigil was up for retention for a full 8-year term.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
448,125 | 71.6 |
| No | 177,735 | 28.4 |
| Total votes | 625,860 | 100.00 |
Court of Appeals
Incumbent Judge Stephen French was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez on February 18, 2016 after Judge Cynthia Fry retired.[11] Judge French ran for re-election to complete the remainder of Judge Fry's term ending in 2022. He was challenged by Democratic candidate Julie Vargas, a private attorney.
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Julie J. Vargas | 395,227 | 52.48% | |
| Republican | Stephen French (incumbent) | 357,837 | 47.52% | |
| Total votes | 753,064 | 100.0% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
Retention election
Incumbent Judges Jonathan Sutin, Timothy Garcia, and Monica Zamora were up for retention for a full 8-year term.
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
426,481 | 70.42 |
| No | 179,122 | 29.58 |
| Total votes | 605,603 | 100.00 |
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
424,372 | 70.28 |
| No | 179,423 | 29.72 |
| Total votes | 603,795 | 100.00 |
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes |
432,540 | 71.1 |
| No | 176,230 | 28.9 |
| Total votes | 608,770 | 100.00 |
- "Federal Elections 2016" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. December 2017.
- "New Mexico Secretary Of State Dianna Duran Resigns Amid Fraud Investigation". Associated Press. October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- Yingling, Sara (November 9, 2016). "Toulouse Oliver becomes New Mexico's Secretary of State". KRQE. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
- "Gov. Martinez appoints Brad Winter as NM Sec. of State". www.KOB.com. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
- "Official Results 2016 GENERAL NOVEMBER 8, 2016". New Mexico Secretary of State.
- "Senate Join Resolution 1" (PDF). New Mexico Legislature.
- Sandlin, Scott (November 13, 2015). "Gov. Martinez picks Nakamura for New Mexico Supreme Court". Albuquerque Journal.
- "Governor makes appointment to New Mexico Court of Appeals". CT Insider. February 18, 2016.