Republican Party of New Mexico
ChairpersonSteve Pearce
Senate LeaderGregory A. Baca
House LeaderJames G. Townsend
Headquarters5150-A San Francisco Road NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
Membership (2021)Increase425,651[1]
IdeologyConservatism
National affiliationRepublican Party
Colors  Red
Seats in the U.S. Senate
0 / 2
Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives
0 / 3
Seats in the New Mexico Senate
15 / 42
Seats in the New Mexico House of Representatives
25 / 70
Website
https://newmexico.gop/

The Republican Party of New Mexico is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New Mexico.[2] It is headquartered in Albuquerque and led by Chair Steve Pearce, Vice Chair Frank Trambley, Secretary Mari Trujillo Spinelli, and Treasurer David Chavez.

It is the primary opposition to the Democratic Party of New Mexico. The party has provided 12 of the 31 Governors of New Mexico, including three since the 1990s (Susana Martinez, Gary Johnson, and Garrey Carruthers). Other key Republican figures in New Mexico's history include Lew Wallace,[3] José Francisco Chaves,[4] Miguel Antonio Otero,[5] Elfego Baca,[6] Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo,[7] and Edwin L. Mechem.[8]

History

Thomas B. Catron

Like most other state Republican parties, the Republican Party of New Mexico was founded during the American Civil War Era in the recently acquired Territory of New Mexico. The State of New Mexico was created in 1912. One of the founding fathers of the Republican Party of New Mexico was Thomas B. Catron.[9] At the time of New Mexico's admission to the Union, Catron owned a significant majority of land in the state. Due to that wealth, Catron was influential in shaping the party. Catron served as U.S. Senator from New Mexico from 1912 to 1917.[10]

Former Republican Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, ran for the party's nomination for president in the 2012 Republican presidential primary. He was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003.[11] However, poll numbers showed Johnson well behind the other Republican candidates and he was only included in two debates with his opponents. This was partly the reason he switched to the Libertarian Party and continued his presidential run for that party's nomination. He won the nomination by a landslide and went on to win third place in the 2012 presidential election behind 1st-place finisher incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and 2nd-place finisher the (Republican) former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. He won nearly 1% nationwide and slightly above 3% in New Mexico.

2020 election

Once Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, the New Mexico GOP attempted to reject or question the election results.[12] Shortly after the election the New Mexico Republican Party began raising funds to help Trump and his campaign challenge the election results.[13] In a November 19 statement, the state GOP falsely claimed that voter fraud occurred in the state, alleging that there was "manipulation of Dominion Voting Systems machines, illegal absentee ballots, ballots submitted with no applications and illegal actions against GOP poll challengers."[14]

On December 14, 2020, the same day that New Mexico electors cast their electoral college votes, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit in federal court against New Mexico Secretary of State, Maggie Toulouse Oliver, the electors of New Mexico and the State Canvassing Board. In a news release, the state GOP questioned the validity of the presidential election results and said it was working with the Trump campaign.[15][16]

The New Mexico GOP supported a meeting of unofficial pro-Trump Republican electors that gathered at the state capitol on 14 December.[17] Also in December 2020, the New Mexico GOP issued a statement supporting the Texas vs. Pennsylvania lawsuit seeking to reject certification of President-elect Biden's victory in four states, citing false claims of fraud.[12]

In early January 2021, Rep. Cathrynn Brown proposed legislation to decertify Biden's victory in New Mexico by removing the state's five electoral votes he won, citing baseless claims of election fraud in New Mexico and in other states. The New Mexico GOP expressed support for the legislation.[18][19] On January 7, 2021, New Mexico GOP chair Steve Pearce drew criticism when he claimed that alleged irregularities in the election "tarnished" democracy, soon after Biden's electoral victory was certified by Congress.[20]

Pre-primary convention

Every two years, prior to the primary election, the party holds a pre-primary convention. This is where statewide candidates push to receive delegate support before the primary election. If a candidate receives at least 20% of the delegates vote, they are automatically placed on the primary election ballot. However, if a candidate does not receive at least 20% of the delegation vote, they can still get on the ballot by obtaining at least 1,500 signatures of Republicans who had voted in the most recent election within 10 days of the convention.[21]

Current elected officials

The party controls none of the state's seven statewide offices, holds a minority in the New Mexico Senate, and a minority in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Republicans hold none of the state's three U.S. House seats.

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

  • None

Both of New Mexico's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Democrats since 2009. Pete Domenici was the last Republican to represent New Mexico in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 1972, Domenici opted to retire instead of seeking a seventh term. Congressman Steve Pearce ran as the Republican nominee in the 2008 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Tom Udall.

U.S. House of Representatives

  • None

Republicans hold none of New Mexico's three congressional districts since 2022.

Statewide offices

  • None

New Mexico has not elected any GOP candidates to statewide office since 2014, when Susana Martinez was re-elected as governor. In 2018, term limits prevented Martinez from seeking re-election to a third term. Congressman Steve Pearce ran as the Republican nominee in the 2018 election and was subsequently defeated by Democratic challenger Michelle Lujan Grisham.

List of past chairs

  • John Dendahl (1994 – 2003)
  • Ramsey Gorham (2003 – 2004)
  • Allen Weh (2004 – 2009)
  • Harvey Yates (2009 – 2010)
  • Monty Newman (2010 – 2012)
  • John Billingsley (2012 – 2014)
  • Debbie Maestas (2015 – 2016)
  • Ryan Cangiolosi (2016 – 2018)
  • Steve Pearce (2018 – present)

Election results

Presidential

New Mexico Republican Party presidential election results
Election Presidential Ticket Votes Vote % Electoral votes State result National result
1912 William Howard Taft/Nicholas M. Butler 17,733 35.91%
0 / 3
 LostLost
1916 Charles E. Hughes/Charles W. Fairbanks 31,152 46.64%
0 / 3
 LostLost
1920 Warren G. Harding/Calvin Coolidge 57,634 54.68%
3 / 3
 WonWon
1924 Calvin Coolidge/Charles G. Dawes 54,745 48.52%
3 / 3
 WonWon
1928 Herbert Hoover/Charles Curtis 69,645 59.01%
3 / 3
 WonWon
1932 Herbert Hoover/Charles Curtis 54,217 35.76%
0 / 3
 LostLost
1936 Alf Landon/Frank Knox 61,727 36.50%
0 / 3
 LostLost
1940 Wendell Willkie/Charles L. McNary 79,315 43.28%
0 / 3
 LostLost
1944 Thomas E. Dewey/John W. Bricker 70,688 46.44%
0 / 4
 LostLost
1948 Thomas E. Dewey/Earl Warren 80,303 42.93%
0 / 4
 LostLost
1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower/Richard Nixon 132,170 55.39%
4 / 4
 WonWon
1956 Dwight D. Eisenhower/Richard Nixon 146,788 57.81%
4 / 4
 WonWon
1960 Richard Nixon/Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. 153,733 49.41%
0 / 4
 LostLost
1964 Barry Goldwater/William E. Miller 131,838 40.24%
0 / 4
 LostLost
1968 Richard Nixon/Spiro Agnew 169,692 51.85%
4 / 4
 WonWon
1972 Richard Nixon/Spiro Agnew 235,606 61.05%
4 / 4
 WonWon
1976 Gerald Ford/Bob Dole 211,419 50.75%
4 / 4
 WonLost
1980 Ronald Reagan/George H. W. Bush 250,779 54.97%
4 / 4
 WonWon
1984 Ronald Reagan/George H. W. Bush 307,101 59.70%
5 / 5
 WonWon
1988 George H. W. Bush/Dan Quayle 270,341 51.86%
5 / 5
 WonWon
1992 George H. W. Bush/Dan Quayle 212,824 37.34%
0 / 5
 LostLost
1996 Bob Dole/Jack Kemp 232,751 41.86%
0 / 5
 LostLost
2000 George W. Bush/Dick Cheney 286,417 47.85%
0 / 5
 LostWon
2004 George W. Bush/Dick Cheney 376,930 49.84%
5 / 5
 WonWon
2008 John McCain/Sarah Palin 346,832 41.78%
0 / 5
 LostLost
2012 Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan 335,788 42.84%
0 / 5
 LostLost
2016 Donald Trump/Mike Pence 319,667 40.04%
0 / 5
 LostWon
2020 Donald Trump/Mike Pence 401,894 43.50%
0 / 5
 LostLost

Gubernatorial

New Mexico Republican Party gubernatorial election results
Election Gubernatorial candidate Votes Vote % Result
1911 Holm O. Bursum 28,019 46.05% Lost Red X
1916 Holm O. Bursum 31,552 47.41% Lost Red X
1918 Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo 23,752 50.50% Won Green tick
1920 Merritt C. Mechem 54,426 51.26% Won Green tick
1922 Charles Lee Hill 49,363 44.66% Lost Red X
1924 Manuel B. Otero 55,984 48.64% Lost Red X
1926 Richard C. Dillon 56,294 51.60% Won Green tick
1928 Richard C. Dillon 65,967 55.61% Won Green tick
1930 Clarence M. Botts 55,026 46.60% Lost Red X
1932 Richard C. Dillon 67,406 44.19% Lost Red X
1934 Jaffa Miller 71,899 47,60% Lost Red X
1936 Jaffa Miller 72,539 42.75% Lost Red X
1938 Albert K. Mitchell 75,017 47.59% Lost Red X
1940 Mauricio F. Miera 82,306 44.41% Lost Red X
1942 Joseph F. Tondre 49,380 45.45% Lost Red X
1944 Carroll G. Gunderson 71,113 48.19% Lost Red X
1946 Edward L. Safford 62,875 47.30% Lost Red X
1948 Manuel Lujan Sr. 86,023 45.28% Lost Red X
1950 Edwin L. Mechem 96,846 53.74% Won Green tick
1952 Edwin L. Mechem 129,116 53.77% Won Green tick
1954 Alvin Stockton 83,373 42.99% Lost Red X
1956 Edwin L. Mechem 131,488 52.23% Won Green tick
1958 Edwin L. Mechem 101,567 49.53% Lost Red X
1960 Edwin L. Mechem 153,765 50.33% Won Green tick
1962 Edwin L. Mechem 116,174 47.01% Lost Red X
1964 Merle H. Tucker 126,540 39.79% Lost Red X
1966 David Cargo 134,625 51.73% Won Green tick
1968 David Cargo 160,140 50.21% Won Green tick
1970 Pete Domenici 134,640 46.37% Lost Red X
1974 Joe Skeen 160,430 48.80% Lost Red X
1978 Joe Skeen 170,848 49.44% Lost Red X
1982 John B. Irick 191,626 47.03% Lost Red X
1986 Garrey Carruthers 209,455 53.05% Won Green tick
1990 Frank Bond 185,692 45.16% Lost Red X
1994 Gary Johnson 232,945 49.81% Won Green tick
1998 Gary Johnson 271,948 54.53% Won Green tick
2002 John Sanchez 189,074 39.05% Lost Red X
2006 John Dendahl 174,364 31.18% Lost Red X
2010 Susana Martinez 321,219 53.29% Won Green tick
2014 Susana Martinez 293,443 57.22% Won Green tick
2018 Steve Pearce 298,091 42.80% Lost Red X
2022 Mark Ronchetti 324,651 45.06% Lost Red X

References

  1. ↑ Winger, Richard. "March 2021 Ballot Access News Print Edition". Ballot Access News. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Contact Us". Republican Party of New Mexico. Archived from the original on 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2010-05-13.
  3. ↑ "Governor of New Mexico". General Lew Wallace Study & Museum. April 11, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Delegate José Francisco Chaves of New Mexico". US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. September 11, 2001. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  5. ↑ "OTERO, Miguel Antonio". US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. September 11, 2001. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  6. ↑ "NEW MEXICO: Good Man of the Badlands". TIME.com. September 10, 1945. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Hispanic Americans in Congress -- Larrazolo". Library of Congress. December 7, 1928. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Edwin Mechem, 90, a Governor of New Mexico". The New York Times. November 30, 2002. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. ↑ History of the Republican Party in New Mexico, 1867-1952/ by Herbert Hoover. –c. 1
  10. ↑ American National Biography; Duran, Tobias. "Francisco Chavez, Thomas B. Catron, and Organized Political Violence in Santa Fe in the 1890s." New Mexico Historical Review 59 (July 1984): 291-310; Westphall, Victor. Thomas Benton Catron and His Era. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1973.
  11. ↑ "About Gary Johnson".
  12. 1 2 D'Ammassa, Algernon (11 December 2020). "After bumpy leadership election, New Mexico GOP focused on questioning Biden's election". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  13. ↑ Hayes, Patrick (2020-11-07). "New Mexico GOP raising funds for Trump lawsuits". KOB 4. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  14. ↑ Reichbach, Matthew (2020-11-20). "Republicans try to cast doubt on NM presidential results after Biden won by 11 points". The NM Political Report. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  15. ↑ Lee, Morgan (14 December 2020). "New Mexico electors support Biden, as GOP sues to invalidate". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  16. ↑ Reichbach, Matthew (2020-12-14). "Trump campaign files suit to overturn NM's election results, even after they were certified and electoral votes were cast". The NM Political Report. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  17. ↑ Metzger, Bryan (8 June 2021). "Why the GOP Just Got Blown Out in a Congressional Race". POLITICO. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  18. ↑ D'Ammassa, Algernon. "On day of chaos in Washington, a NM lawmaker announces effort to challenge electoral vote". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  19. ↑ Davis, Charles (7 January 2021). "New Mexico Republicans peddle 'dangerous' myth of voter fraud in a state Trump lost by double digits". Business Insider. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  20. ↑ Lee, Morgan (2021-04-20). "State GOP says election tarnished democracy, faces criticism". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2021-10-18.
  21. ↑ "NMI to live blog GOP pre-primary convention". newmexicoindependent.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-15.
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