1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico

none related races 1980 United States House of Representatives elections February 2026 January 2025 1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico New Mexico legislative no 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico 1978 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico 1982 All 2 New Mexico seats to the United States House of Representatives 1980 11 04 Republican Party (United States) 1 2 1 187,474 45.9% 4.4% Democratic Party (United States) 1 0 1 175,988 43.0% 15.5% Independent politician 0 0 45,343 11.1% 11.1% New Mexico House Election Results 1980.svg 230px District results Republican #FFCCD0 30–40% #E27F90 50–60% The 1980 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico was held on Tuesday November 4, 1980 to elect the state's two representatives to serve in the 97th United States Congress. Primary elections were held on June 3, 1980. Republicans held on to the 1st District and flipped the 2nd district. This was the first time republicans held both districts in New Mexico since 1968. Overview United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 1980https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1980election.pdf Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of RepresentativesPartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Republican 187,474 45.86% 1 +1 Democratic 175,988 43.05% 0 -1 Independent 45,343 11.09% 0 — Totals 408,805 100.00% 2 — District 1 New Mexico's 1st congressional district New Mexico's 1st congressional district election, 1980 Republican Party (United States) Manuel Lujan Jr. (incumbent) 125,910 51.01 Democratic Party (United States) Bill Richardson 120,903 48.99 246,813 100.00 Republican Party (United States) District 2 New Mexico's 2nd congressional district 1980 New Mexico's 2nd congressional district election New Mexico presidential no 1978 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico#District 2 1978 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico 1982 x150px JoeSkeen.jpg Joe Skeen Republican Party (United States) 61,564 38.00% 3x4.svg David W. King Democratic Party (United States) 55,085 34.01% 3x4.svg Dorothy Runnels Independent politician 45,343 27.99% New Mexico 2nd Congressional District Election Results 1980.svg County results Skeen: #fbe0dd 30–40% #f1b5b2 40–50% #ed8883 50–60% King:#b4c7ec 40–50% #8da9e2 50–60% Runnels: #a9a9a9 50–60% U.S. Representative Harold L. Runnels Democratic Party (United States) Joe Skeen Republican Party (United States) Democratic primary At the beginning of 1980, Harold Runnels was a popular five-term member of Congress. No Democrat had filed to run against him in the primary since 1970, and his support among Republicans was so strong that no Republican bothered to run against him in either 1978 or 1980. Runnels was sending out feelers about a possible candidacy for NM Governor in 1982. In 1980, however, a Democrat chose to run against Runnels. The manager of Sierra County, Gil M. Olguin, announced his candidacy on February 2, 1980 and began to collect signatures. He filed his candidacy papers the same day as Runnels.Deming Headlight, 3/4/1980 Harold Runnels in the end won the primary 80-20%.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=756743 Our Campaigns - NM District 2 - D Primary Race - Jun 03, 1980 www.ourcampaigns.com Candidates Gil M. Olguin Harold L. Runnels, Incumbent Representative Primary results Democratic primary results Harold L. Runnels (incumbent) Democratic Party (United States) 56,650 80.15 Gil M. Olguin Democratic Party (United States) 14,003 19.85 70,653 100.0 Background US Rep. Harold Runnels was a popular Democrat who had severe health problems in his final two years of life. He had cancer surgery in 1979, and he only agreed to run for another term after tests showed he was cancer-free.(Albuquerque Journal, 2/12/1980) Just a week after defeating his only opponent in 1980 in the Democratic primary, however, Runnels began to suffer from lung congestion.(Albuquerque Journal, 7/1/1980) He went to the Sloane-Kettering Hospital in NYC twice to see specialists, and he died there on August 5, 1980.(Deming Headlight, 8/5/1980) Replacement Candidate Speculation began immediately about a replacement candidate. The NM Attorney General issued an opinion that since no Republican filed for the primary, it was too late for them to list a nominee on the ballot. Dorothy Runnels, widow of the deceased congressman, was interested in running, and Republicans in general believed she would be to their liking(Albuquerque Journal, 8/10/1980) The Democrats scheduled a meeting to select their nominee on August 23. Dorothy Runnels announced her candidacy on August 9.(Santa Fe New Mexican, 8/10/1980) The nephew of Gov Bruce King, David King (then serving as state finance secretary), changed his official residence to the second congressional district just after Rep. Runnels's funeral and announced his candidacy, which seemed inappropriate to many Democrats.(Deming Headlight, 8/19/1980) Democrats found this a good opportunity to increase the number of women in Congress, and on August 19. more than half of Democrats in the US House, along with the entire party leadership, signed a letter endorsing her.(Deming Headlight, 8/20/1980) When the Democrats met, however, political pressure from the governor was too great; King was nominated with 55 votes to 27 for Runnels and 4 for Olguin.(Santa Fe New Mexican, 8/24/1980) Campaign Dorothy runnels decided to run a Write in campaign as she had not expected to gain ballot access. Her attorney continued to seek ballot status through litigation but failed. A poll by KOAT-TV released on September 24 showed Runnels leading with 36% to Skeen 28%, King 18%, and State Sen. Aubrey Dunn with 7%.(Deming Headlight, 9/24/1980) However, in the end Republican Joe Skeen won the election with just 38% of the vote.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29085 Our Campaigns - NM District 02 Race - Nov 04, 1980 www.ourcampaigns.com Results New Mexico's 2nd congressional district election, 1980 Republican Party (United States) Joe Skeen 61,564 38.00 Democratic Party (United States) David W. King 55,085 34.01 Independent politician Dorothy Runnels 45,343 27.99 161,992 100.00 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References 1980 New Mexico United States House of Representatives