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All 3 New Mexico seats to theUnited States House of Representatives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 District results County results
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| Elections in New Mexico |
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The2008 congressional elections in New Mexico were held on November 4, 2008, to determineNew Mexico's representation in theUnited States House of Representatives. The party primary elections were held June 3, 2008.[1]Martin Heinrich,Harry Teague, andBen Ray Luján, allDemocrats, were elected to represent New Mexico in the House. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; the winners of the election currently serve in the111th Congress, which began on January 4, 2009, and is scheduled to end on January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the2008 U.S. presidential election andsenatorial elections.
New Mexico has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the2000 United States census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of twoRepublicans and oneDemocrat. All three incumbents chose to vie for New Mexico's open Senate seat being held by retiring RepublicanPete Domenici. The election resulted in all three New Mexico seats are being occupied by freshmanDemocrats. Districts1 and2 changed from Republican to Democratic;CQ Politics had forecast that these seats might be at risk for the Republican Party. This was the last time that Democrats won all of New Mexico's congressional districts until the2018 midterm elections. Incidentally, two of the three elected Representatives, Heinrich and Luján, now serve together in theUnited States Senate since 2021.
| United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 2008[2] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 457,135 | 56.12% | 3 | +2 | |
| Republican | 321,083 | 39.42% | 0 | -2 | |
| Independents | 36,348 | 4.46% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 814,566 | 100.00% | 13 | — | |
| District | Incumbent | 2008 Status | Democratic | Republican | Independents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heather Wilson | Open | Martin Heinrich | Darren White | None |
| 2 | Steve Pearce | Open | Harry Teague | Edward R. Tinsley, III | None |
| 3 | Tom Udall | Open | Ben R. Luján | Dan East | Carol Miller |
This district includes the central area ofNew Mexico, in and aroundAlbuquerque. An open seat, CQ Politics forecast the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Pure Toss-Up'.The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Lean Democratic'.
The 2006 race between incumbent RepublicanHeather Wilson and Democratic state Attorney GeneralPatricia Madrid was a cliffhanger, with Wilson being reelected by 861 votes.John Kerry had narrowly won the district with 52% in 2004 (CPVI=D+2). With the retirement of longtimeU.S. SenatorPete Domenici, Wilson ran and lost as a candidate for the Republican nomination in the race for an openU.S. Senate seat, leaving this an open seat.[3] The Democratic nominee wasMartin Heinrich (former Albuquerque City Councilor). The Republican nominee wasBernalillo County SheriffDarren White.[4]In the general election, Heinrich defeated White by a margin of 11%. When sworn into Congress in January 2009, Heinrich became the first Democrat to ever represent this district in the House.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin T. Heinrich | 22,344 | 44% | ||
| Democratic | Rebecca D. Vigil-Giron | 12,659 | 25% | ||
| Democratic | Michelle Lujan Grisham | 12,073 | 24% | ||
| Democratic | Robert L. Pidcock | 4,272 | 8% | ||
| Majority | 9,685 | ||||
| Turnout | 51,348 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Darren White | 57,878 | 88% | ||
| Republican | Joseph J. Carraro | 8,244 | 12% | ||
| Majority | 49,634 | ||||
| Turnout | 66,122 | ||||
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Lean D(flip) | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Lean D(flip) | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Lean D(flip) | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Lean D(flip) | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Martin T. Heinrich | 163,622 | 55.5% | ||
| Republican | Darren White | 131,284 | 44.5% | ||
| Majority | 32,338 | 11% | |||
| Turnout | 294,906 | ||||
This district covers the southern half of the state ofNew Mexico, includingLas Cruces andRoswell.CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Leans Republican'.The Rothenberg Political Report rated it 'Pure Toss-Up'.The Cook Political Report ranked it 'Republican Toss Up'.
Republican incumbentSteve Pearce won his party's nomination over Heather Wilson for theU.S. Senate, leaving this an open seat.[11] This district usually votes Republican.George W. Bush won the district 58% to 42% overJohn Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=R+6). Nevertheless, Democratic nomineeHarry Teague defeated Republican Edward R. Tinsely III in the general election and became the first Democrat to represent this district since 1981.
Harry Teague | |
|---|---|
| Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative for New Mexico,2nd District | |
| Election date November 4, 2008 | |
| Opponent(s) | Edward Roy Tinsley, III (R) |
| Incumbent | Steve Pearce (R) |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nancy |
| Occupation | small business owner |
| Website | harryforcongress.com |
Edward R. Tinsley, III | |
|---|---|
| Republican nominee for U.S. Representative for New Mexico,2nd District | |
| Election date November 4, 2008 | |
| Opponent | Harry Teague (D) |
| Incumbent | Steve Pearce (R) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Meredith George Tinsley |
| Residence(s) | Capitan,Lincoln County, New Mexico |
| Alma mater | University of Texas Texas Tech University |
| Occupation | Franchisor ofK-Bob's Steakhouse;Rancher,Lawyer |
| Website | www.edtinsleyforcongress.com |
Harry Teague (D)
Teague is aHobbs business owner, civic leader and former Lea County Commissioner.
Edward R. Tinsley III (R)
Tinsley is a restaurateur.[12]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harry Teague | 20,206 | 52% | ||
| Democratic | Bill McCamley | 18,489 | 48% | ||
| Majority | 1,717 | ||||
| Turnout | 38,695 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Edward R. Tinsley III | 11,469 | 32% | ||
| Republican | Monty Newman | 7,476 | 21% | ||
| Republican | Aubrey Dunn | 7,331 | 20% | ||
| Republican | Greg Sowards | 6,427 | 18% | ||
| Republican | C. Earl Greer | 3,606 | 10% | ||
| Majority | 3,993 | ||||
| Turnout | 36,309 | ||||
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Lean D(flip) | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Lean D(flip) | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Tossup | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Tossup | November 6, 2008 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harry Teague | 127,640 | 55.8% | ||
| Republican | Edward R. Tinsley III | 101,084 | 44.2% | ||
| Majority | 26,556 | 11.6% | |||
| Turnout | 228,724 | ||||
This district covers the northern half of the state of New Mexico, including the capital,Santa Fe. An open seat,CQ Politics forecast the race as 'Safe Democrat', as didThe Rothenberg Political Report andThe Cook Political Report.
Democratic incumbentTom Udall won his party's nomination forPete Domenici's open U.S. Senate seat,.[14] The Democrats tend to hold the advantage in the district:John Kerry received 54% of the vote there (CPVI=D+6) in 2004. The Democratic nominee was State Public Regulation CommissionerBen R. Luján.Luján's father serves as Speaker of theNew Mexico House of Representatives. The Republican nominee was small business ownerDan East. Carol Miller, a 1997/1998 Green Party candidate, was seeking the seat as an independent.[15]Luján won the three-way race fairly easily and was sworn into Congress in January 2009.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben R. Luján | 26,776 | 42% | ||
| Democratic | Don Wiviott | 16,497 | 26% | ||
| Democratic | Benny J. Shendo Jr | 10,148 | 16% | ||
| Democratic | Harry Montoya | 7,234 | 11% | ||
| Democratic | Jon Adams | 1,979 | 3% | ||
| Democratic | Rudy Martin | 1,845 | 3% | ||
| Majority | 10,279 | ||||
| Turnout | 64,479 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Daniel East | 14,767 | 54% | ||
| Republican | Marco Gonzales | 12,634 | 46% | ||
| Majority | 2,133 | ||||
| Turnout | 27,401 | ||||
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[6] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Rothenberg[7] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Real Clear Politics[9] | Safe D | November 7, 2008 |
| CQ Politics[10] | Safe D | November 6, 2008 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Ray Luján | 158,548 | 56.6% | ||
| Republican | Daniel East | 85,969 | 30.7% | ||
| Independent | Carol Miller | 35,789 | 12.8% | ||
| Majority | 72,579 | 25.9% | |||
| Turnout | 280,306 | ||||
Specific
General
| Preceded by 2006 elections | United States House elections in New Mexico 2008 | Succeeded by 2010 elections |
