1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election

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| <- 1968 | November 3, 1970 | 1974 ->

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Nominee  | Bruce King | Pete Domenici |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Popular vote  | 148,835 | 134,640
Percentage  | 51.26% | 46.37%

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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

|

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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

[edit]

### Democratic primary

[edit]

The Democratic primary was won by state representative Bruce King.

#### Campaign

[edit]

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

[edit]

Democratic primary results[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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| 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

[edit]

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

#### Results

[edit]

Republican primary results[2] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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| 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

[edit]

### Results

[edit]

1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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| 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

[edit]

County  | Bruce King
Democratic  | Pete V. Domenici
Republican  | John A. Salazar
Independent  | Wilfredo Sedillo
PCP  | Margin  | Total votes cast

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#  | %  | #  | %  | #  | %  | #  | %  | #  | %
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

[edit]

* Catron
* Curry
* Eddy
* Lea
* Luna
* Mora
* Quay
* Roosevelt
* San Miguel
* Sierra
* Torrance
* Union

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

[edit]

* Socorro

## Notes

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

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

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