United States Senate election in New Mexico, 2012
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November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06 )
→ 2018
County results
The 2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman decided to retire instead of running for re-election to a sixth term.[ 1] Democratic U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich won the open seat.
Background [ edit ]
Incumbent Jeff Bingaman won re-election to a fifth term with 70.61% of the vote against Allen McCulloch in the 2006 U.S. senatorial election in New Mexico.
Democratic primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Declared [ edit ]
Withdrew [ edit ]
Declined [ edit ]
Polling [ edit ]
Endorsements [ edit ]
Martin Heinrich
Federal officials
Statewide officials
New Mexico state senators
New Mexico state representatives
J. Paul Taylor
Joni Guiterrez
Bill O'Neill
Jeff Steinborn
Mimi Stewart
Danice Picraux
Eliseo Alcon
Eleanor Chavez
New Mexico Mayors
Source:[ 11]
Unions
Organizations
Source:[ 14]
Hector Balderas
Statewide officials
New Mexico state senators
New Mexico state representatives
New Mexico Mayors
Source:[ 15]
Results [ edit ]
Democratic primary results[ 16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Martin Heinrich
83,432
58.9
Democratic
Hector Balderas
58,128
41.1
Total votes
141,560
100
Republican primary [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Declared [ edit ]
Withdrew [ edit ]
Declined [ edit ]
Polling [ edit ]
Hypothetical polling
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Bill
English
Gary
Johnson
John
Sanchez
Greg
Sowards
Heather
Wilson
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
December 10–12, 2011
300
± 5.7%
1%
31%
15%
3%
42%
—
9%
Endorsements [ edit ]
Heather Wilson
Federal officials
Statewide officials
New Mexico state senators
Minority Leader Stuart Ingle
Minority Whip Bill Payne
Steven Neville
Bill Sharer
Clint Harden
John Ryan
Mark Boitano
Gay Kernan
Vernon Asbill
Sander Rue
Bill Burt
Sue Wilson Beffort
Carroll Leavell
Rod Adair
New Mexico state representatives
Minority Leader Tom Taylor
David Chavez
Bill Gray
Jim Hall
Conrad James
Dave Doyle
Nora Espinoza
Nate Gentry
Jimmie Hall
Jane Powdrell-Culbert
Larry Larranaga
Bill Rehm
Dianne Miller Hamilton
Jim Smith
James White
Tim Lewis
Dennis Roch
Anna Crook
Shirley Tyler
Tom Anderson
Zachary Cook
Alonzo Baldonado
Paul Bandy
James Strickler
Don Bratton
Don Tripp
Cathryn Novich-Brown
Bob Wooley
New Mexico Mayors
Source:[ 23]
Results [ edit ]
Republican primary results[ 16]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Heather Wilson
63,631
70.0
Republican
Greg Sowards
27,214
30.0
Total votes
90,845
100
General election [ edit ]
Candidates [ edit ]
Debates [ edit ]
Fundraising [ edit ]
Candidate (party)
Receipts
Disbursements
Cash on hand
Debt
Martin Heinrich (D)
$3,883,992
$2,174,712
$1,763,753
$89,424
Heather Wilson (R)
$4,048,847
$2,416,328
$1,632,517
$0
Jon Barrie (I)
$705
$1,150
$0
$445
Source: Federal Election Commission [ 25] [ 26] [ 27]
Top contributors [ edit ]
[ 28]
Martin Heinrich
Contribution
Heather Wilson
Contribution
League of Conservation Voters
$108,634
Elliott Management Corporation
$29,413
JStreetPAC
$67,860
Mewbourne Oil Co
$25,000
University of New Mexico
$24,221
Kelly PAC
$15,000
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
$23,000
Blue Cross & Blue Shield
$14,050
Council for a Livable World
$20,044
Devon Energy
$13,250
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
$19,000
Murray Energy
$12,800
Comcast Corporation
$11,250
Yates Petroleum
$12,600
Presbyterian Healthcare Services
$11,150
Livingston Group
$12,249
Intel Corp
$10,500
Publix Super Markets
$11,000
American Optometric Association
$10,250
Westport Construction
$10,500
Top industries [ edit ]
[ 29]
Martin Heinrich
Contribution
Heather Wilson
Contribution
Lawyers /Law Firms
$322,120
Retired
$355,880
Retired
$270,598
Oil & Gas
$217,500
Lobbyists
$156,480
Leadership PACs
$206,225
Environmental organizations
$145,365
Financial Institutions
$163,888
Leadership PACs
$100,000
Lobbyists
$113,549
Health Professionals
$95,729
Lawyers/Law Firms
$106,852
Pro-Israel
$83,860
Real Estate
$95,990
Public Sector Unions
$67,000
Misc Finance
$72,407
Democratic /Liberal
$64,300
Business Services
$72,078
Casinos /Gambling
$58,550
Mining
$69,200
Polling [ edit ]
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Martin
Heinrich (D)
Heather
Wilson (R)
Other
Undecided
Albuquerque Poll Journal
October 23–25, 2012
662
± 3.8%
50%
42%
3%
6%
Public Policy Polling
October 23–24, 2012
727
± n/a%
52%
44%
—
3%
Albuquerque Poll Journal
October 9–11, 2012
658
± 3.8%
48%
39%
4%
9%
Rasmussen Reports
October 8, 2012
500
± 4.5%
52%
39%
4%
5%
Public Policy Polling
October 2–3, 2012
778
± n/a%
51%
41%
—
8%
We Ask America
September 25–27, 2012
1,258
± 2.85%
52%
41%
—
7%
Public Policy Polling
September 7–9, 2012
1,122
± 2.9%
50%
41%
—
9%
Albuquerque Journal
September 3–6, 2012
667
± 3.8%
49%
42%
—
8%
Rasmussen Reports
August 21, 2012
500
± 4.5%
48%
41%
5%
7%
Public Policy Polling
July 13–16, 2012
724
± 3.6%
48%
43%
—
9%
Public Policy Polling
April 19–22, 2012
526
± 4.3%
48%
43%
—
9%
Rasmussen Reports
April 3, 2012
500
± 4.5%
46%
42%
7%
6%
Rasmussen Reports
February 14, 2012
500
± 4.5%
45%
43%
5%
7%
Public Policy Polling
December 10–12, 2011
500
± 4.4%
47%
40%
—
13%
Public Policy Polling
June 23–26, 2011
732
± 3.6%
47%
42%
—
11%
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
50%
39%
—
11%
Hypothetical polling
with Jeff Bingaman
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jeff
Bingaman (D)
Gary
Johnson (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
51%
40%
—
9%
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jeff
Bingaman (D)
Steve
Pearce (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
57%
34%
—
9%
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Jeff
Bingaman (D)
Heather
Wilson (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
56%
37%
—
9%
with Hector Balderas
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Hector
Balderas (D)
Gary
Johnson (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
December 10–12, 2011
500
± 4.4%
38%
44%
—
19%
with Ben Ray Luján
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ben Ray
Luján (D)
Gary
Johnson (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
40%
45%
—
9%
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ben Ray
Luján (D)
Steve
Pearce (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
49%
37%
—
14%
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Ben Ray
Luján (D)
Heather
Wilson (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
48%
40%
—
12%
with Martin Heinrich
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Martin
Heinrich (D)
Gary
Johnson (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
December 10–12, 2011
500
± 4.4%
43%
43%
—
14%
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
43%
44%
—
14%
Poll source
Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Martin
Heinrich (D)
Steve
Pearce (R)
Other
Undecided
Public Policy Polling
February 4–6, 2011
545
± 4.2%
53%
38%
—
10%
Results [ edit ]
United States Senate election in New Mexico, 2012
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Democratic
Martin Heinrich
395,717
51.01
-19.81%
Republican
Heather Wilson
351,295
45.28
+16.17
American Independent
Jon Barrie
27,649
3.6
Write-In
Write-In
617
0.08%
Majority
44,458
6.1%
Turnout
775,278
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
^ a b Cillizza, Chris (February 19, 2011). "Bingaman won't run for Senate in 2012" . The Washington Post . Retrieved February 19, 2011 .
^ Trygstad, Kyle (April 26, 2011). "Balderas Enters N.M. Senate Race Against Heinrich" . Roll Call . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Trygstad, Kyle (April 2, 2011). "Heinrich Makes N.M. Senate Bid Official" . Roll Call . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Haussamen, Heath (June 29, 2011). "Chávez is running for Congress; Denish isn’t" . NMPolitics.net . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Catanese, David (June 29, 2011). "Chavez sets up primary for Heinrich seat" . Politico . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ "Andres Valdez Out of U.S. Senate Race" . Associated Press . Albuquerque Journal . February 14, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Catanese, David (July 6, 2011). "Diane Denish endorses Balderas" . Politico . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Trygstad, Kyle (July 6, 2011). "Denish to Endorse Balderas in N.M. Senate Primary" . Roll Call . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Catanese, David (April 25, 2011). "Ben Ray Lujan won't run for Senate" . Politico . Retrieved April 25, 2011 .
^ Trygstad, Kyle (December 6, 2011). "Martin Heinrich Nabs Raúl Grijalva’s Support in Senate Race" . Roll Call . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ "Individual Endorsements" . Martin Heinrich for Senate . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ "NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC Announces New Endorsements in Key House, Senate Contests to End War on Women" . NARAL Pro-Choice America . April 3, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ "Planed Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Martin Heinrich for U. S. Senate" . Martin Heinrich for Senate . February 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2015 .
^ "Endorsements" . Martin Heinrich for Senate . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ "Endorsements" . Balderas for Senate 2012 . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ a b "Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 5, 2012 – State of New Mexico" (PDF) . Secretary of State of New Mexico . Retrieved August 3, 2012 .
^ Haussamen, Heath (December 16, 2010). "Sowards announces candidacy for Senate" . NMPolitics.net . Retrieved December 16, 2010 .
^ a b Haussamen, Heath (March 7, 2011). "Wilson formally enters U.S. Senate race" . NMPolitics.net . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ "Republican Candidate Bill English Withdraws from New Mexico U.S. Senate Race, Endorses Sowards" . Tea Party Tribune . January 11, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Trygstad, Kyle (February 9, 2012). "Republican John Sanchez Drops New Mexico Senate Bid" . Roll Call . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Burns, Peter (February 18, 2011). "Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson will not run for Senate" . The Washington Examiner . Retrieved February 18, 2011 .
^ "Pearce re-election committee has balance of $682K" . Las Cruces Sun-News . April 17, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ "Endorsements" . Heather Wilson for United States Senate . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Peters, Joey (January 5, 2012). "Independent With Libertarian Bent Announces Bid For US Senate" . Santa Fe Reporter . Retrieved May 13, 2012 .
^ Heinrich Campaign Finances
^ Wilson Campaign Finances
^ Barrie Campaign Finances
^ Top Contributors 2012 Race: New Mexico Senate , Center for Responsive Politics
^ Donors by Industries (opensecrets.org)
External links [ edit ]
Official campaign websites