2016 New Mexico elections#Secretary of State (special)
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{ElectionsNM}}
A general election was held in the U.S. state of New Mexico on November 8, 2016. In the presidential election, voters in the state chose five electors to represent them in the Electoral College via popular vote. All three New Mexico seats to the United States House of Representatives were up for election. A special election was held for Secretary of State, along with all seats in both houses of the New Mexico Legislature. Primary elections were held on June 7.
Federal elections
= U.S. President =
{{main|2016 United States presidential election in New Mexico}}
{{Election box begin |title=2016 United States presidential election in New Mexico{{cite web |title=Federal Elections 2016 |work=Federal Election Commission |date=December 2017 |url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2016.pdf}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (US)
|candidate = Hillary Clinton
|votes = 385,234
|percentage = 48.26
|change = {{loss}}4.73
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (US)
|candidate = Donald Trump
|votes = 319,667
|percentage = 40.04
|change = {{loss}}2.80
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (US)
|candidate = Gary Johnson
|votes = 74,541
|percentage = 9.34
|change = {{gain}}5.79
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Green Party of the United States
|candidate = Jill Stein
|votes = 9,879
|percentage = 1.24
|change = {{gain}}0.90
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Independent politician
|candidate = Evan McMullin
|votes = 5,825
|percentage = 0.73
|change =
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Constitution Party (US)
|candidate = Darrell Castle
|votes = 1,514
|percentage = 0.15
|change = {{gain}}0.02
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Party for Socialism and Liberation
|candidate = Gloria La Riva
|votes = 1,184
|percentage = 0.15
|change =
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = American Delta Party
|candidate = Rocky De La Fuente
|votes = 475
|percentage = 0.06
|change =
}}{{Election box majority
|votes = 65,567
|percentage = 8.21
|change = {{loss}}1.94
}}{{Election box total
|votes = 798,319
|percentage = 100.00
|change =
}}{{Election box end}}
= U.S. House of Representatives =
{{main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico}}
All three incumbents were reelected: Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham of the 1st district, Republican Steve Pearce of the 2nd district, and Democrat Ben Ray Luján of the 3rd district.
State elections
= Secretary of State (special election) =
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2016 New Mexico Secretary of State special election
| country = New Mexico
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2014 New Mexico elections#Secretary of State
| previous_year = 2014
| election_date = {{Start date|2016|11|08}}
| next_election = 2018 New Mexico elections#Secretary of state
| next_year = 2018
| image_size = x160px
| image1 = File:Maggie Toulouse Oliver.jpg
| nominee1 = Maggie Toulouse Oliver
| party1 = Democratic Party of New Mexico
| popular_vote1 = 433,227
| percentage1 = 56.4%
| image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee2 = Nora Espinoza
| party2 = Republican Party of New Mexico
| popular_vote2 = 334,733
| percentage2 = 43.6%
| map_image = {{switcher |230px |County results|230px |Congressional district results}}
| map_caption = Toulouse Oliver: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
Espinoza: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#D75D5D|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
| title = Secretary of State
| before_election = Brad Winter
| before_party = Republican Party of New Mexico
| after_election = Maggie Toulouse Oliver
| after_party = Democratic Party of New Mexico
}}
On October 22, 2015, incumbent Secretary of State Dianna Duran resigned amid a corruption and campaign law investigation.{{cite web| url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dianna-duran-resigns_562a4316e4b0aac0b8fc8dee| title = New Mexico Secretary Of State Dianna Duran Resigns Amid Fraud Investigation| agency = Associated Press| date = October 23, 2015| access-date = October 27, 2015}} Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who ran against Duran in 2014, defeated Republican Nora Espinoza to fill the remainder of her term.{{cite web|url=http://krqe.com/2016/11/09/toulouse-oliver-becomes-new-mexicos-secretary-of-state/|title=Toulouse Oliver becomes New Mexico's Secretary of State|last=Yingling|first=Sara|date=November 9, 2016|work=KRQE|access-date=November 14, 2016}}
== Republican primary ==
Republican Brad Winter, who was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez following Duran's resignation, chose not to run for a full term.{{cite web|url=http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3991960.shtml#.VnRRL0orLIU|title=Gov. Martinez appoints Brad Winter as NM Sec. of State|work=www.KOB.com|access-date=December 18, 2015}} Because of this, state representative Nora Espinoza ran unopposed in the primary election.
{{Election box begin no change |title=Republican primary results{{cite web |title=Official Results 2016 PRIMARY JUNE 7, 2016 |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.nm.us/resultsSW.aspx?type=SW&map=CTY&eid=78}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party of New Mexico
|candidate = Nora Espinoza
|votes = 83,759
|percentage = 100.0%
}}{{Election box total no change
|votes = 83,759
|percentage = 100.0%
}}{{Election box end}}
== Democratic primary ==
Bernalillo County clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver was the only Democrat to declare her candidacy, and ran unopposed in the primary election.
{{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic primary results}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party of New Mexico
|candidate = Maggie Toulouse Oliver
|votes = 172,837
|percentage = 100.0%
}}{{Election box total no change
|votes = 172,837
|percentage = 100.0%
}}{{Election box end}}
== General election ==
{{Election box begin|title=2016 New Mexico Secretary of State special election{{cite web |title=Official Results 2016 GENERAL NOVEMBER 8, 2016 |url=https://electionresults.sos.state.nm.us/resultsSW.aspx?type=SW&map=CTY&eid=84 |website=New Mexico Secretary of State}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party of New Mexico
|candidate = Maggie Toulouse Oliver
|votes = 433,227
|percentage = 56.41%
|change = +8.05%
}}{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party of New Mexico
|candidate = Nora Espinoza
|votes = 334,733
|percentage = 43.59%
|change = -8.05%
}}{{Election box total
|votes = 767,960
|percentage = 100.0%
}}{{Election box gain with party link no swing
|winner = Democratic Party of New Mexico
|loser = Republican Party of New Mexico
}}{{Election box end}}
= New Mexico Legislature =
All seats of the New Mexico Legislature were up for election in 2016. The New Mexico Senate has 42 members elected to four-year terms, while the New Mexico House of Representatives has 70 members elected to two-year terms.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
Senate
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" style="width:150px;"| Party ! Before ! Won ! +/- |
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| 24 | 26 | {{gain}} 2 |
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| 18 | 16 | {{loss}} 2 |
| colspan=2|Total
| 42 | 42 | |
|---|
{{col-break}}
House of Representatives
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" style="width:150px;"| Party ! Before ! Won ! +/- |
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| 33 | 38 | {{gain}} 5 |
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| 37 | 32 | {{loss}} 5 |
| colspan=2|Total
| 70 | 70 | |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Democrats strengthened their control of the Senate and regained control of the House, securing both legislative chambers.{{cite web |title=New Mexico State Senate elections, 2016 |website=Ballotpedia |url=https://ballotpedia.org/New_Mexico_State_Senate_elections,_2016}}{{cite web |title=New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2016 |website=Ballotpedia |url=https://ballotpedia.org/New_Mexico_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2016}}
= Ballot measures =
== Constitutional Amendment 1 ==
The New Mexico Denial of Bail Measure is a constitutional amendment that allows courts to deny bail to a defendant charged with a felony, but only if the defendant is deemed a threat to the public. It was designed to retain the right to pretrial release for non-dangerous defendants.{{cite web |work=New Mexico Legislature |title=Senate Join Resolution 1 |url=https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/16%20Regular/resolutions/senate/SJR01.pdf}}
{{Referendum
| title = New Mexico Denial of Bail Measure
| yes = 616,887
| yespct = 87.23
| no = 90,293
| nopct = 12.77
| total = 707,180
| source = [https://ballotpedia.org/New_Mexico_Changes_in_Regulations_Governing_Bail,_Constitutional_Amendment_1_(2016) Ballotpedia]
}}
Judicial elections
=Supreme Court=
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2016 New Mexico Supreme Court election
| country = New Mexico
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2012 New Mexico elections# Supreme Court
| previous_year = 2012
| election_date = {{Start date|2016|11|08}}
| next_election = 2020 New Mexico elections#Supreme Court
| next_year = 2020
| image_size = x160px
| image1 =
| nominee1 = Judith Nakamura
| party1 = Republican Party of New Mexico
| popular_vote1 = 396,303
| percentage1 = 52.0%
| image2 =
| nominee2 = Michael Vigil
| party2 = Democratic Party of New Mexico
| popular_vote2 = 365,790
| percentage2 = 48.0%
| map_image = 2016 New Mexico Supreme Court election results map.svg
| map_size = 230px
| map_caption = County results
Nakamura: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#D75D5D|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}}
Vigil: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}
| title = Supreme Court Justice
| before_election = Judith Nakamura
| before_party = Republican Party of New Mexico
| after_election = Judith Nakamura
| after_party = Republican Party of New Mexico
}}
Incumbent justice Judith Nakamura was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez on November 12, 2015, after Justice Richard C. Bosson retired.{{cite web |last1=Sandlin |first1=Scott |title=Gov. Martinez picks Nakamura for New Mexico Supreme Court |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/674798/gov-picks-nakamura-for-nm-supreme-court.html |website=Albuquerque Journal |date=November 13, 2015}} Justice Nakamura ran to complete the remainder of Justice Bosson's term ending in 2020, and was challenged by Democratic candidate Michael Vigil, the chief judge of the New Mexico Court of Appeals.
To date, this the last time Republicans have won a statewide election in New Mexico.
==General election==
===Polling===
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |
| valign=bottom
! Poll source ! Date(s) ! Sample ! Margin ! style="width:100px;"| Judith ! style="width:100px;"| Michael ! Undecided |
| style="text-align:left;"|Research & Polling Inc.[https://www.abqjournal.com/883052/nakamura-vigil-tied-in-supreme-court-race.html Research & Polling Inc.]
|November 1–3, 2016 |504 (LV) |± 4.4% |45% |45% |10% |
===Results===
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2016 New Mexico Supreme Court election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party of New Mexico
| candidate = Judith K. Nakamura (incumbent)
| votes = 396,303
| percentage = 52.00%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of New Mexico
| candidate = Michael E. Vigil
| votes = 365,790
| percentage = 48.00%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 762,093
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
|winner = Republican Party of New Mexico
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Retention election==
Incumbent justice Barbara Vigil was up for retention for a full 8-year term.
{{Referendum
| title = 2016 New Mexico Supreme Court, Justice Barbara J. Vigil (D) Retention election
| yes = 448,125
| yespct = 71.6
| no = 177,735
| nopct = 28.4
| total = 625,860
}}
=Court of Appeals=
Incumbent Judge Stephen French was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez on February 18, 2016, after Judge Cynthia Fry retired.{{cite web |title=Governor makes appointment to New Mexico Court of Appeals |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Governor-makes-appointment-to-New-Mexico-Court-of-6940458.php |website=CT Insider |date=February 18, 2016}} Judge French ran for re-election to complete the remainder of Judge Fry's term ending in 2022. He was challenged by Democratic candidate Julie Vargas, a private attorney.
==General election==
{{Election box begin no change |title= 2016 New Mexico Court of Appeals election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party of New Mexico
| candidate = Julie J. Vargas
| votes = 395,227
| percentage = 52.48%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party of New Mexico
| candidate = Stephen French (incumbent)
| votes = 357,837
| percentage = 47.52%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 753,064
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change
|winner = Democratic Party of New Mexico
|loser = Republican Party of New Mexico
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Retention election==
Incumbent Judges Jonathan Sutin, Timothy Garcia, and Monica Zamora were up for retention for a full 8-year term.
{{Referendum
| title = 2016 New Mexico Court of Appeals, Judge Jonathan B. Sutin (R) Retention election
| yes = 426,481
| yespct = 70.42
| no = 179,122
| nopct = 29.58
| total = 605,603
}}
{{Referendum
| title = 2016 New Mexico Court of Appeals, Judge Tim L. Garcia (D) Retention election
| yes = 424,372
| yespct = 70.28
| no = 179,423
| nopct = 29.72
| total = 603,795
}}
{{Referendum
| title = 2016 New Mexico Court of Appeals, Judge M. Monica Zamora (D) Retention election
| yes = 432,540
| yespct = 71.1
| no = 176,230
| nopct = 28.9
| total = 608,770
}}