The 1976 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joseph Montoya ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Republican Harrison Schmitt. As of 2023[update], this is the last time that the Republicans have won the Class 1 Senate seat in New Mexico, and the only time they have done so since 1934. Harrison Schmitt's inauguration marked the only time since 1917 where both Senate seats were held by Republicans. Harrison Schmitt was the first non-Hispanic to have won this seat since Bronson Murray Cutting in 1934.
Harrison Schmitt was a former astronaut who walked on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission, who was seeking his first political office.
Joseph Montoya had completed two terms in the Senate and was seeking his third.[1] He was well-known as a member of the Senate committee which investigated Watergate.
In the pre-primary convention held on March 27, 1976, Schmitt received 73.7% of the votes and businessman Eugene Peirce received 21%, allowing both to qualify for the primary ballot. A third candidate, Arthur Lavine, received 5.3% of the votes, not enough to be placed on the primary ballot.[3]
Resultsedit
In the June 1 primary election, Schmitt defeated Peirce and became the Republican nominee.[citation needed]
Schmitt campaigned for 14 months, running a forward-looking campaign critical of Montoya's ethical issues. His slogan was "Honesty for a change."[4] On the campaign trail, Schmitt, who was twenty years younger than Montoya, frequently said, "I have time for the future; Senator Montoya does not."[5]
On the campaign trail in October, Senator Montoya repeatedly ridiculed Schmitt's experience as an astronaut by comparing him to a little monkey ("changito"), who could be trained to travel in space.[6][4]
Schmitt won the election in a decisive victory. Joseph Montoya congratulated Schmitt on his victory, saying "The people have spoken and I accept their verdict."[1]
^ ab"Schmitt Landslide Ends Montoya Senate Reign". Clovis News-Journal. Clovis, New Mexico. Associated Press. November 3, 1976. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Eugene W. Peirce, 1931–2015". Albuquerque Journal. April 23, 2015.
^"Montoya, Schmitt, Peirce on Ballots". Las Cruces Sun-News. UPI. March 28, 1976. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abCliff, Nancy (1982). "Far from home: Schmitt's path to Senate face-off began in space". Silver City Daily Press. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
^Feather, Bill (November 3, 1976). "Montoya's Tenure Ended by Schmitt". Las Vegas Optic. Las Vegas, New Mexico. Associated Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^Calloway, Larry (October 25, 1976). "Montoya Ridicules Schmitt". Santa Fe New Mexican.
^"Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Clerk of the House of Representatives. p. 31.
1976, united, states, senate, election, mexico, took, place, november, 1976, incumbent, democratic, senator, joseph, montoya, election, third, term, defeated, republican, harrison, schmitt, 2023, update, this, last, time, that, republicans, have, class, senate. The 1976 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 2 1976 Incumbent Democratic U S Senator Joseph Montoya ran for re election to a third term but was defeated by Republican Harrison Schmitt As of 2023 update this is the last time that the Republicans have won the Class 1 Senate seat in New Mexico and the only time they have done so since 1934 Harrison Schmitt s inauguration marked the only time since 1917 where both Senate seats were held by Republicans Harrison Schmitt was the first non Hispanic to have won this seat since Bronson Murray Cutting in 1934 1976 United States Senate election in New Mexico 1970 November 2 1976 1982 Nominee Harrison Schmitt Joseph Montoya Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 234 681 176 382 Percentage 56 82 42 70 County resultsSchmitt 50 60 60 70 Montoya 50 60 60 70 U S senator before election Joseph Montoya Democratic Elected U S Senator Harrison Schmitt Republican Contents 1 Background 2 Republican primary 2 1 Candidates 2 1 1 Eliminated at convention 2 2 Campaign 2 3 Results 3 General election 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Campaign 3 3 Results 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground editHarrison Schmitt was a former astronaut who walked on the Moon during the Apollo 17 mission who was seeking his first political office Joseph Montoya had completed two terms in the Senate and was seeking his third 1 He was well known as a member of the Senate committee which investigated Watergate Republican primary editCandidates edit Eugene W Peirce Jr businessman and former state legislator 2 Harrison Schmitt former astronaut Eliminated at convention edit Arthur Lavine Campaign edit In the pre primary convention held on March 27 1976 Schmitt received 73 7 of the votes and businessman Eugene Peirce received 21 allowing both to qualify for the primary ballot A third candidate Arthur Lavine received 5 3 of the votes not enough to be placed on the primary ballot 3 Results edit In the June 1 primary election Schmitt defeated Peirce and became the Republican nominee citation needed General election editCandidates edit Joseph Montoya incumbent U S Senator Democratic Harrison Schmitt former astronaut Republican Campaign edit Schmitt campaigned for 14 months running a forward looking campaign critical of Montoya s ethical issues His slogan was Honesty for a change 4 On the campaign trail Schmitt who was twenty years younger than Montoya frequently said I have time for the future Senator Montoya does not 5 On the campaign trail in October Senator Montoya repeatedly ridiculed Schmitt s experience as an astronaut by comparing him to a little monkey changito who could be trained to travel in space 6 4 Results edit General election results 7 Party Candidate Votes Republican Harrison Schmitt 234 681 56 82 nbsp 9 69 Democratic Joseph Montoya incumbent 176 382 42 70 nbsp 10 17 La Raza Unida Ernesto B Borunda 1 087 0 26 N A American Independent Matt Dillion 906 0 22 N A Majority 58 299 14 11 8 36 Turnout 413 056 Republican gain from Democratic Swing Schmitt won the election in a decisive victory Joseph Montoya congratulated Schmitt on his victory saying The people have spoken and I accept their verdict 1 See also edit1976 United States Senate electionsReferences edit a b Schmitt Landslide Ends Montoya Senate Reign Clovis News Journal Clovis New Mexico Associated Press November 3 1976 p 1 via Newspapers com Eugene W Peirce 1931 2015 Albuquerque Journal April 23 2015 Montoya Schmitt Peirce on Ballots Las Cruces Sun News UPI March 28 1976 p 1 via Newspapers com a b Cliff Nancy 1982 Far from home Schmitt s path to Senate face off began in space Silver City Daily Press Retrieved May 5 2022 Feather Bill November 3 1976 Montoya s Tenure Ended by Schmitt Las Vegas Optic Las Vegas New Mexico Associated Press p 1 via Newspapers com Calloway Larry October 25 1976 Montoya Ridicules Schmitt Santa Fe New Mexican Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2 1976 PDF Clerk of the House of Representatives p 31 External links edit nbsp This New Mexico elections related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1976 United States Senate election in New Mexico amp oldid 1210963892, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
