2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico

none February 2026 September 2023 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico New Mexico legislative no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico 2006 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico 2010 All 3 New Mexico seats to the United States House of Representatives November 4, 2008 Democratic Party (United States) 1 3 2 457,135 56.12% 0.31% Republican Party (United States) 2 0 2 321,083 39.42% 4.75% 230px District results 230px County results Democratic #B9D7FF 40–50% #86B6F2 50–60% #4389e3 60–70% #1666cb 70–80% Republican #F2B3BE 40–50% #e27f90 50–60% #cc2f4a 60–70% The 2008 congressional elections in New Mexico were held on November 4, 2008, to determine New Mexico's representation in the United States House of Representatives. The party primary elections were held June 3, 2008.2008 Primary Election Calendar New Mexico Secretary of State Martin Heinrich, Harry Teague, and Ben Ray Luján, all Democrats, were elected to represent New Mexico in the House. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; the winners of the election currently serve in the 111th Congress, which began on January 4, 2009, and is scheduled to end on January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election and senatorial elections. New Mexico has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007-2008 congressional delegation consisted of two Republicans and one Democrat. All three incumbents chose to vie for New Mexico's open Senate seat being held by retiring Republican Pete Domenici. The election resulted in all three New Mexico seats are being occupied by freshman Democrats. Districts 1 and 2 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 the 2018 midterm elections. Incidentally, two of the three elected Representatives, Heinrich and Luján, now serve together in the United States Senate since 2021. Overview United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 20082008 Election StatisticsPartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– 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 — Match-up summary District Incumbent 2008 Status Democratic Republican Independents 1Heather Wilson OpenMartin Heinrich Darren White None 2Steve Pearce OpenHarry Teague Edward R. Tinsley, III None 3Tom Udall OpenBen R. Luján Dan East Carol Miller District 1 thumb New Mexico's 1st congressional district This district includes the central area of New Mexico, in and around Albuquerque. 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'. Martin Heinrich (D) (campaign website) Darren White (R) (campaign website) The 2006 race between incumbent Republican Heather Wilson and Democratic state Attorney General Patricia 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 longtime U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, Wilson ran and lost as a candidate for the Republican nomination in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat, leaving this an open seat.http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/oct/05/wilson-seek-senate-seat-being-vacated-domenici abqtrib.com 2008-08-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20081211163233/http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/oct/05/wilson-seek-senate-seat-being-vacated-domenici/ 2008-12-11 dead The Democratic nominee was Martin Heinrich (former Albuquerque City Councilor). The Republican nominee was Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White.http://www.currentargus.com/ci_7149214 currentargus.com August 5, 2008 December 8, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081208062017/http://www.currentargus.com/ci_7149214 dead 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. Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets White (R) vs Heinrich (D) graph of collected poll results from Pollster.com Primary elections 2008 Democratic Primary Congressional Election, District 1FINAL RESULTS: June 3 primary election https://web.archive.org/web/20081013093258/http://www.lcsun-news.com/electioncentral/ci_9650380 2008-10-13 Las Cruces Sun-News, June 20, 2008 Democratic Party (US) Martin T. Heinrich 22,344 44% Democratic Party (US) Rebecca D. Vigil-Giron 12,659 25% Democratic Party (US) Michelle Lujan Grisham 12,073 24% Democratic Party (US) Robert L. Pidcock 4,272 8% 9,685 51,348 2008 Republican Primary Congressional Election, District 1 Republican Party (US) Darren White 57,878 88% Republican Party (US) Joseph J. Carraro 8,244 12% 49,634 66,122 General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Competitive House Race Chart http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive_2008-11-04_13-32-49.php House: Race Ratings The Cook Political Report 6 November 2006 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106112035/http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive_2008-11-04_13-32-49.php 6 November 2008Lean D flip November 6, 2008 Rothenberg2008 House Ratings https://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-house-ratings.html House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report 2 November 2006 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106133426/http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/11/2008-house-ratings.html 6 November 2008Lean D flip November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal Ball2008 House http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/house/ Sabato's Crystal Ball 6 November 2008 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106144620/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2008/house/ 6 November 2008Lean D flip November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsBattle for the House of Representatives http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/house/battle_for_the_house_of_representatives.html realclearpolitics.com Real Clear Politics 9 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081217170047/http://www.realclearpolitics.com:80/epolls/2008/house/battle_for_the_house_of_representatives.html 17 December 2008 7 November 2008Lean D flip November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: House http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house cqpolitics.com Congressional Quarterly Inc 20 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20081106054801/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-house 6 November 2008Tossup November 6, 2008 2008 General Congressional Election, District 1 Democratic Party (US) Martin T. Heinrich 163,622 55.5% Republican Party (US) Darren White 131,284 44.5% 32,338 11% 294,906 District 2 thumb New Mexico's 2nd congressional district This district covers the southern half of the state of New Mexico, including Las Cruces and Roswell. 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 incumbent Steve Pearce won his party's nomination over Heather Wilson for the U.S. Senate, leaving this an open seat.http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_7194286 alamogordonews.com August 5, 2008 December 7, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081207031251/http://www.alamogordonews.com/news/ci_7194286 dead This district usually votes Republican. George W. Bush won the district 58% to 42% over John Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=R+6). Nevertheless, Democratic nominee Harry Teague defeated Republican Edward R. Tinsely III in the general election and became the first Democrat to represent this district since 1981. Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Candidates Harry Teague New Mexico U.S. Representative for New Mexico, 2nd District Steve Pearce (R) Edward Roy Tinsley, III (R) November 4, 2008 Democratic small business owner Nancy harryforcongress.com Edward R. Tinsley, III New Mexico U.S. Representative for New Mexico, 2nd District Steve Pearce (R) Harry Teague (D) November 4, 2008 Republican Lamesa, Dawson County, Texas University of Texas Texas Tech University Franchisor of K-Bob's Steakhouse; Rancher, Lawyer Meredith George Tinsley www.edtinsleyforcongress.com Harry Teague (D) Teague is a Hobbs business owner, civic leader and former Lea County Commissioner. Harry Teague for Congress official campaign website 102408 H8NM02032 Edward R. Tinsley III (R) Tinsley is a restaurateur.http://kob.com/article/stories/S250543.shtml?cat=519 kob.com August 5, 2008 September 19, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080919222154/http://kob.com/article/stories/S250543.shtml?cat=519 dead Ed Tinsley for Congress official campaign website 43508 H2NM02134 Primary elections 2008 Democratic Primary Congressional Election, District 2FINAL RESULTS: June 3 primary election https://web.archive.org/web/20081013093258/http://www.lcsun-news.com/electioncentral/ci_9650380 2008-10-13 Las Cruces Sun-News, June 20, 2008 Democratic Party (US) Harry Teague 20,206 52% Democratic Party (US) Bill McCamley 18,489 48% 1,717 38,695 2008 Republican Primary Congressional Election, District 2 Republican Party (US) Edward R. Tinsley III 11,469 32% Republican Party (US) Monty Newman 7,476 21% Republican Party (US) Aubrey Dunn 7,331 20% Republican Party (US) Greg Sowards 6,427 18% Republican Party (US) C. Earl Greer 3,606 10% 3,993 36,309 General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportTossup November 6, 2008 RothenbergLean D flip November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallLean D flip November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsTossup November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsTossup November 6, 2008 2008 General Congressional Election, District 2 Democratic Party (US) Harry Teague 127,640 55.8% Republican Party (US) Edward R. Tinsley III 101,084 44.2% 26,556 11.6% 228,724 District 3 thumb New Mexico's 3rd congressional district 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 did The Rothenberg Political Report and The Cook Political Report. Dan East (R) Ben R. Luján (D) Carol Miller (I) Democratic incumbent Tom Udall won his party's nomination for Pete Domenici's open U.S. Senate seat.thehill.com 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 Commissioner Ben R. Luján. Luján's father serves as Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives. The Republican nominee was small business owner Dan East. Carol Miller, a 1997/1998 Green Party candidate, was seeking the seat as an independent.lcsun-news.comAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot Luján won the three-way race fairly easily and was sworn into Congress in January 2009. Dan East's campaign website Ben R. Luján's campaign website Carol Miller's campaign website Race ranking and details from CQ Politics Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Primary elections 2008 Democratic Primary Congressional Election, District 3FINAL RESULTS: June 3 primary election https://web.archive.org/web/20081013093258/http://www.lcsun-news.com/electioncentral/ci_9650380 2008-10-13 Las Cruces Sun-News, June 20, 2008 Democratic Party (US) Ben R. Luján 26,776 42% Democratic Party (US) Don Wiviott 16,497 26% Democratic Party (US) Benny J. Shendo Jr 10,148 16% Democratic Party (US) Harry Montoya 7,234 11% Democratic Party (US) Jon Adams 1,979 3% Democratic Party (US) Rudy Martin 1,845 3% 10,279 64,479 2008 Republican Primary Congressional Election, District 3 Republican Party (US) Daniel East 14,767 54% Republican Party (US) Marco Gonzales 12,634 46% 2,133 27,401 General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political ReportSafe D November 6, 2008 RothenbergSafe D November 2, 2008 Sabato's Crystal BallSafe D November 6, 2008 Real Clear PoliticsSafe D November 7, 2008 CQ PoliticsSafe D November 6, 2008 2008 General Congressional Election, District 3 Democratic Party (US) Ben Ray Luján 158,548 56.6% Republican Party (US) Daniel East 85,969 30.7% Independent (politician) Carol Miller 35,789 12.8% 72,579 25.9% 280,306 References Specific 30em General 2008 Competitive House Race Chart The Cook Political Report, October 13, 2008. 2008 House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, October 14, 2008 External links Elections from the New Mexico Secretary of State 2008 Voters' Guide from the League of Women Voters of New Mexico U.S. Congress candidates for New Mexico at Project Vote Smart Campaign contributions for New Mexico congressional races from OpenSecrets Local/State Election news and Voter Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20080818105731/http://www.lcsun-news.com/electioncentral August 18, 2008 from Las Cruces Sun-News 2006 elections United States House elections in New Mexico2008 2010 elections New Mexico 2008 Category:2008 New Mexico elections