2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico

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 reelection to a sixth term.[1] Democratic U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich won the open seat.

2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico

November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06)
 
Nominee Martin Heinrich Heather Wilson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 395,717 351,259
Percentage 51.0% 45.3%

County results
Heinrich:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Wilson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Jeff Bingaman
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Martin Heinrich
Democratic

Background

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

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Hector
Balderas
Martin
Heinrich
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling June 23–26, 2011 400 ± 4.9% 24% 47% 29%
Magellan Strategies July 17–18, 2011 636 ± 3.9% 21% 54% 25%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 309 ± 5.6% 30% 47% 23%
Public Policy Polling April 19–22, 2012 270 ± 6% 27% 51% 22%
Albuquerque Journal/Research & Polling Archived June 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 21–24, 2012 741 ± 3.6% 26% 51% 23%

Endorsements

Martin Heinrich
Hector Balderas
Statewide officials
New Mexico state senators
New Mexico state representatives
New Mexico Mayors

Source:[15]

Results

Results by county
  Heinrich—70–80%
  Heinrich—60–70%
  Heinrich—50–60%
  Balderas—50–60%
  Balderas—60–70%
  Balderas—70–80%
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

Declared

Withdrew

Declined

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Bill
English
John
Sanchez
Greg
Sowards
Heather
Wilson
Other Undecided
Magellan Strategies April 26–27, 2011 801 ± 3.5% 17% 2% 59% 11% 11%
Public Policy Polling June 23–26, 2011 400 ± 4.9% 4% 24% 8% 52% 12%
Magellan Strategies July 17–18, 2011 799 ± 3.5% 2% 21% 5% 56% 16%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 300 ± 5.7% 3% 20% 6% 55% 16%
Albuquerque Journal Archived June 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine May 21–24, 2012 504 ± 4.4% 20% 66% 14%
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

Heather Wilson
Federal officials
Statewide officials
New Mexico state senators
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

Results by county:
  Wilson—70–80%
  Wilson—60–70%
  Wilson—50–60%
  Sowards—50–60%
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

Candidates

Debates

Fundraising

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

[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

[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

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[30] Lean D November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[31] Likely D November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[32] Lean D November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[33] Likely D November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Martin
Heinrich (D)
Heather
Wilson (R)
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling February 4–6, 2011 545 ± 4.2% 50% 39% 11%
Public Policy Polling June 23–26, 2011 732 ± 3.6% 47% 42% 11%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 47% 40% 13%
Rasmussen Reports February 14, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 45% 43% 5% 7%
Rasmussen Reports April 3, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 46% 42% 7% 6%
Public Policy Polling April 19–22, 2012 526 ± 4.3% 48% 43% 9%
Public Policy Polling July 13–16, 2012 724 ± 3.6% 48% 43% 9%
Rasmussen Reports August 21, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 48% 41% 5% 7%
Albuquerque Journal Archived September 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine September 3–6, 2012 667 ± 3.8% 49% 42% 8%
Public Policy Polling September 7–9, 2012 1,122 ± 2.9% 50% 41% 9%
We Ask America September 25–27, 2012 1,258 ± 2.85% 52% 41% 7%
Public Policy Polling October 2–3, 2012 778 ± n/a% 51% 41% 8%
Rasmussen Reports October 8, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 52% 39% 4% 5%
Albuquerque Poll Journal Archived October 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine October 9–11, 2012 658 ± 3.8% 48% 39% 4% 9%
Public Policy Polling October 23–24, 2012 727 ± n/a% 52% 44% 3%
Albuquerque Poll Journal October 23–25, 2012 662 ± 3.8% 50% 42% 3% 6%
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%
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Hector
Balderas (D)
Greg
Sowards (R)
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling June 23–26, 2011 732 ± 3.6% 42% 28% 30%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 44% 30% 27%
Public Policy Polling April 19–22, 2012 526 ± 4.3% 42% 30% 28%
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Hector
Balderas (D)
Heather
Wilson (R)
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling June 23–26, 2011 732 ± 3.6% 45% 39% 16%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 43% 43% 14%
Rasmussen Reports February 14, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 44% 44% 3% 9%
Rasmussen Reports April 3, 2012 500 ± 4.5% 42% 43% 5% 9%
Public Policy Polling April 19–22, 2012 526 ± 4.3% 44% 43% 12%
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 February 4–6, 2011 545 ± 4.2% 43% 44% 14%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 43% 43% 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%
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Martin
Heinrich (D)
Greg
Sowards (R)
Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling June 23–26, 2011 732 ± 3.6% 46% 34% 20%
Public Policy Polling December 10–12, 2011 500 ± 4.4% 49% 31% 20%
Public Policy Polling April 19–22, 2012 526 ± 4.3% 48% 34% 18%

Results

2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Martin Heinrich 395,717 51.01% -19.60%
Republican Heather Wilson 351,259 45.28% +15.95%
Independent American Jon Barrie 28,199 3.63% N/A
Independent Robert L. Anderson (write-in) 617 0.08% N/A
Total votes 775,792 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Results by congressional district

Heinrich won 2 of 3 congressional districts.[35]

District Heinrich Wilson Representative
1st 53.5% 43.34% Michelle Lujan Grisham
2nd 44.37% 51.15% Steve Pearce
3rd 54.15% 42.42% Ben Ray Luján

See also

References

  1. Cillizza, Chris (February 19, 2011). "Bingaman won't run for Senate in 2012". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  2. Trygstad, Kyle (April 26, 2011). "Balderas Enters N.M. Senate Race Against Heinrich". Roll Call. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  3. Trygstad, Kyle (April 2, 2011). "Heinrich Makes N.M. Senate Bid Official". Roll Call. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  4. Haussamen, Heath (June 29, 2011). "Chávez is running for Congress; Denish isn't". NMPolitics.net. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  5. Catanese, David (June 29, 2011). "Chavez sets up primary for Heinrich seat". Politico. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  6. "Andres Valdez Out of U.S. Senate Race". Albuquerque Journal. Associated Press. February 14, 2012. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  7. Catanese, David (July 6, 2011). "Diane Denish endorses Balderas". Politico. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  8. Trygstad, Kyle (July 6, 2011). "Denish to Endorse Balderas in N.M. Senate Primary". Roll Call. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  9. Catanese, David (April 25, 2011). "Ben Ray Lujan won't run for Senate". Politico. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  10. Trygstad, Kyle (December 6, 2011). "Martin Heinrich Nabs Raúl Grijalva's Support in Senate Race". Roll Call. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  11. "Individual Endorsements". Martin Heinrich for Senate. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  12. "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. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  13. "Planned 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.
  14. "Endorsements". Martin Heinrich for Senate. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  15. "Endorsements". Balderas for Senate 2012. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  16. "Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 5, 2012 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Mexico. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  17. Haussamen, Heath (December 16, 2010). "Sowards announces candidacy for Senate". NMPolitics.net. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  18. Haussamen, Heath (March 7, 2011). "Wilson formally enters U.S. Senate race". NMPolitics.net. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  19. "Republican Candidate Bill English Withdraws from New Mexico U.S. Senate Race, Endorses Sowards". Tea Party Tribune. January 11, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  20. Trygstad, Kyle (February 9, 2012). "Republican John Sanchez Drops New Mexico Senate Bid". Roll Call. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  21. Burns, Peter (February 18, 2011). "Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson will not run for Senate". The Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  22. "Pearce re-election committee has balance of $682K". Las Cruces Sun-News. April 17, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  23. "Endorsements". Heather Wilson for United States Senate. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  24. Peters, Joey (January 5, 2012). "Independent With Libertarian Bent Announces Bid For US Senate". Santa Fe Reporter. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  25. Martin Heinrich Campaign Finances
  26. Heather Wilson Campaign Finances
  27. Jon Barrie Campaign Finances
  28. Top Contributors 2012 Race: New Mexico Senate, OpenSecrets
  29. Donors by Industries (opensecrets.org)
  30. "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  31. "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  32. "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  33. "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  34. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
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