2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico

none March 2026 December 2017 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico New Mexico presidential no 2002 United States Senate election in New Mexico 2002 2014 United States Senate election in New Mexico 2014 November 4, 2008 150x150px Tom Udall Official House Picture.jpg Tom Udall Democratic Party (United States) 505,128 61.33% Steve Pearce, Official Portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg Steve Pearce Republican Party (United States) 318,522 38.67% 230px County results 230px Precinct results Udall: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0D0596 >90% Pearce: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% #A80000 >90%Tie: #ae8bb1 50% #808080 No data U.S. Senator Pete Domenici Republican Party (United States) Tom Udall Democratic Party (United States) The 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico was held on November 4, 2008, coinciding with the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Pete Domenici decided to retire instead of seeking a seventh term. All three of New Mexico's U.S. Representatives (Tom Udall, Steve Pearce, and Heather Wilson) retired from the House to run in this election, which was the first open Senate seat in the state since 1972 where Domenici was first elected on this seat. Pearce narrowly defeated Wilson in the Republican primary, but Udall won the general election after an uncontested Democratic primary. In February 2007 Domenici indicated his intention to run for re-election.Talhelm Jennifer February 13, 2007 Domenici: 'I am running' in 2008 The Santa Fe New Mexican http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/56924.html dead February 14, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014935/http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/56924.html September 30, 2007 By October 2007, he changed his mind, stating that because of the progression of a medical condition, he would not seek a seventh term.Murray Shailagh October 5, 2007 Citing Health, GOP's Domenici says he'll retire from Senate The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/04/AR2007100401516.html October 5, 2007 Domenici also lost his chairmanship after Republicans lost control of the Senate in the 2006 Senate election, which may have inclined him against running. On June 3, 2008, Pearce and Udall won their respective nomination contests.Election.KOB.com – Pearce narrowly wins U.S. Senate nominationJune 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes Democrats won this seat for the first time since 1966, the NM-01 House seat for the first time ever, and the NM-02 seat for the first time since 1978, and thereby gave New Mexico an all-Democratic Congressional delegation for the first time since 1969. Tom Udall outperformed Barack Obama and his results in the concurrent presidential election by 4.42% and by 32,706 votes. Democratic primary Candidates Tom Udall, U.S. Representative Campaign After Domenici announced he was not running, Democratic Governor Bill Richardson was considered a leading candidate for the seat, but in October he affirmed his commitment to his presidential nomination campaign.October 4, 2008 Richardson Sticks with Presidential Bid The New York Times Associated Press https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Richardson-Senate.html October 5, 2008 In October Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez entered the race for the Democratic nomination.October 9, 2007 Chavez announces U.S. Senate run KOB-TV http://kob.com/article/stories/S220083.shtml?cat=500 November 18, 2007 January 10, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080110032138/http://kob.com/article/stories/S220083.shtml?cat=500 dead In early November five-term Democratic Rep. Tom Udall entered the race.November 11, 2007 NM Rep. Tom Udall to Run for Senate Associated Press http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ilmYcsJz4U8IC8m_ox2SWgPj7DegD8SR39O80 dead November 11, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071112061424/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ilmYcsJz4U8IC8m_ox2SWgPj7DegD8SR39O80 November 12, 2007 On December 7 Chavez withdrew from the race, saying "While I deeply appreciate all the support I have received, it has become very clear to me that Democrats should not be divided in the upcoming election."December 7, 2007 Chávez drops out of U. S. Senate race KRQE-TV http://www.krqe.com/Global/story.asp?S=7468037 dead December 18, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080110034028/http://www.krqe.com/Global/story.asp?S=7468037 January 10, 2008 mdy-all Results Democratic primary resultsArchived copy http://www.sos.state.nm.us/08PrimResults/StatewidePrim08.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120314170523/http://www.sos.state.nm.us/08PrimResults/StatewidePrim08.pdf March 14, 2012 December 14, 2015 Tom Udall Democratic Party (United States) 141,629 100.00% 141,629 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Steve Pearce, U.S. Representative, and candidate in 2000 Heather Wilson, U.S. Representative Polling Source Date StevePearce HeatherWilsonSurveyUSASurveyUSA November 16–18, 2007 37% 56%SurveyUSASurveyUSA May 15, 2008 49% 46% Results thumb|230px|Results by county: Map legend #800000 Pearce—>90% #aa0000 Pearce—80–90% #d40000 Pearce—70–80% #cc2f4a Pearce—60–70% #e27f90 Pearce—50–60% #ff9955 Wilson—50–60% #ff7f2a Wilson—60–70% #ff6600 Wilson—70–80% Republican primary results Steve Pearce Republican Party (United States) 57,953 51.29% Heather Wilson Republican Party (United States) 55,039 48.71% 112,992 100.00% General election Candidates Tom Udall (D), U.S. Representative Steve Pearce (R), U.S. Representative Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008 https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 The Cook Political Report April 1, 2021 June 25, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210625160336/https://cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139080 dead Lean D FlipOctober 23, 2008 CQ PoliticsRace Ratings Chart: Senate https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate October 28, 2010 CQ Politics Likely D FlipOctober 31, 2008 Rothenberg Political Report2008 Senate ratings https://www.insideelections.com/ratings/senate/2008-senate-ratings Inside Elections April 1, 2021 Likely D FlipNovember 2, 2008 Real Clear Politics2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/election_2008_senate_races.html Real Clear Politics August 31, 2021 Likely D FlipOctober 31, 2008 David Iglesias dismissal controversy Domenici and Wilson were both being investigated by the Senate for their roles in the dismissal of prosecutor David Iglesias. This may have affected Wilson's chances in the 2008 election.October 4, 2008 Wilson, Possibly Udall To Seek Domenici's Senate Seat The Gate http://thegate.nationaljournal.com/2007/10/wilson_to_seek_domenicis_senat_1.php dead October 18, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071011210100/http://thegate.nationaljournal.com/2007/10/wilson_to_seek_domenicis_senat_1.php October 11, 2007 In late October Pearce made 130,000 automated phone calls, which led Wilson to "cry foul."October 22, 2007 Pearce calls voters, Wilson cries foul KOB http://kob.com/article/stories/S232572.shtml?cat=504 November 18, 2007 January 10, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080110032149/http://kob.com/article/stories/S232572.shtml?cat=504 dead At issue was Pearce's use of the phone calls to justify his opposition to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill. The Wilson campaign claimed that "Pearce violated House ethics by urging those he called to contact him through his official, non-campaign phone number or check out his official, non-campaign Web site."October 31, 2007 Senate hopefuls don't inspire Alamogordo Daily News http://www.alamogordonews.com/opinion/ci_7325103 November 18, 2007 August 17, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090817070401/http://www.alamogordonews.com/opinion/ci_7325103 dead Finances The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) attempted to defend 23 Senate seats up for election in November. Committee chair Senator John Ensign identified the 10 most competitive Republican seats in June 2008. He was asked about the two Republican seats most likely to turn Democratic, Virginia and New Mexico. Ensign did not directly say whether the NRSC was considering walking away to work on other seats that can be won, but he said, "You don’t waste money on races that don’t need it or you can’t win."Davis Susan June 12, 2008 Sen. Ensign Says GOP Majority Would Be 'Fairly Miraculous' Wall Street Journal blog https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/12/sen-ensign-says-gop-majority-would-be-fairly-miraculous/ Udall raised more than $801,000 prior to November 29.November 29, 2007 Ten things to know about Senate hopeful Rep. Tom Udall Albuquerque Tribune http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/nov/29/ten-things-know-about-senate-hopeful-rep-tom-udall/ dead December 11, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071224215231/http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/nov/29/ten-things-know-about-senate-hopeful-rep-tom-udall/ December 24, 2007 mdy-all Wilson had slightly less, including a November Washington fundraiser with Vice President Dick Cheney that netted $110,000, bringing her total to about $750,000.November 16, 2007 Wilson pulls $110,000 at Cheney fundraiser The Hill http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/wilson-pulls-110000-at-cheney-fundraiser-2007-11-16.html https://web.archive.org/web/20071124120330/http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/wilson-pulls-110000-at-cheney-fundraiser-2007-11-16.html dead November 24, 2007 December 11, 2007 Debates The candidates agreed to three televised debates: October 15 on KOB-TV, October 18 on KRQE and October 26 on KOAT-TV. The AARP co-sponsored the second debate and the Albuquerque Journal co-sponsored the final debate. They also appeared together on Meet the Press in the fall.Senate candidates agree on 3 NM televised debatesJune 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes AP, August 17, 2008 Polling Source Date StevePearce (R) TomUdall (D)SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 5–7, 2007 37% 55%Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & AssociatesFairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates October 23–27, 2007 33% 50%SurveyUSASurveyUSA October 27–30, 2007 40% 56%Research 2000Research 2000 November 5–7, 2007 37% 54%SurveyUSA November 16–18, 2007 40% 54%New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University February 11, 2008 31% 53%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports February 29, 2008 42% 50%Rasmussen Reports April 10, 2008 40% 54%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports May 14, 2008 37% 53%SurveyUSA May 15, 2008 36% 60%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 24, 2008 35% 61%Rasmussen Reports August 20, 2008 44% 52%Rasmussen Reports September 8, 2008 44% 51%Survey USASurvey USA September 16, 2008 41% 56%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 19, 2008 37% 57%Survey USASurvey USA September 29–30, 2008 39% 58%Rasmussen Reports October 1, 2008 41% 55%Survey USASurvey USA October 13, 2008 40% 58%Rasmussen Reports October 13, 2008 37% 57%Rasmussen Reports October 28, 2008 41% 56%Survey USASurvey USA October 31, 2008 42% 56% Results 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexicohttp://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateNM Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Party (United States) Tom Udall 505,128 61.33% +26.37% Republican Party (United States) Steve Pearce 318,522 38.67% -26.37% 823,650 100.00% N/A Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Bernalillo (largest city: Albuquerque) Doña Ana (largest city: Las Cruces) Guadalupe (largest city: Santa Rosa) Harding (largest city: Roy) Hidalgo (largest city: Lordsburg) Luna (largest city: Deming) Quay (largest city: Tucumcari) Sandoval (largest city: Rancho) Torrance (largest city: Moriarty) Valencia (largest village: Los Lunas) Colfax (largest city: Raton) Los Alamos (largest city: Los Alamos) Grant (largest city: Silver City) McKinley (largest city: Gallup) Arriba (largest city: Española) Cibola (largest city: Grants) Mora (largest city: Mora) See also 2008 United States Senate elections References External links Elections from the New Mexico Secretary of State U.S. Congress candidates for New Mexico https://web.archive.org/web/20081024103326/http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=NM&go33.x=13&go33.y=9 October 24, 2008 at Project Vote Smart New Mexico, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics New Mexico U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com New Mexico U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets Pearce (R) vs Udall (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Official campaign websites (Archived) Tom Udall, Democratic candidate Steve Pearce, Republican candidate 2008 New Mexico United States Senate