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 County results Bingaman: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Schmitt: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The1982 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican U.S. SenatorHarrison Schmitt was running for re-election to a second term, but lost to DemocratJeff Bingaman. As of 2022, this is the last time an incumbent senator lost re-election in New Mexico.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jeff Bingaman | 91,780 | 54.36 | |
| Democratic | Jerry Apodaca | 66,598 | 39.44 | |
| Democratic | Virginia Keehan | 10,466 | 6.20 | |
| Total votes | 168,844 | 100.00 | ||
Bingaman ran advertisements that criticized Schmitt's views on a minimum Social Security and mining on federally protected land.[2] Schmitt countered these ads by criticizing Bingaman's work as attorney general, citing the handling of the 1980 state prison riot and asking the governor to pardon an inmate that was on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List.[2] Another ad that Bingaman ran asked, "What on Earth has he done for you lately?"[3]
The two negative ads that Schmitt ran were received poorly and later pulled.[4]
The turnout was approximately 70%.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jeff Bingaman | 217,682 | 53.77% | +11.07% | |
| Republican | Harrison Schmitt (incumbent) | 187,128 | 46.23% | −10.59% | |
| Majority | 30,554 | 7.55% | −6.57% | ||
| Turnout | 404,810 | ||||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | Swing | ||||
Schmitt thought the media was biased against him during the campaign.[2]
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