The 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico was held on November 4, 2008 coinciding with the 2008 U.S. presidential election. Incumbent RepublicanU.S. SenatorPete 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.[1] By October 2007, he changed his mind, stating that because of the progression of a medical condition, he would not seek a seventh term.[2] 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.[3]
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 1981, and thereby gave New Mexico an all-Democratic Congressional delegation for the first time since 1969.
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.[4]
In October Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez entered the race for the Democratic nomination.[5] In early November five-term Democratic Rep. Tom Udall entered the race.[6] 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."[7]
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.[13]
In late October Pearce made 130,000 automated phone calls, which led Wilson to "cry foul."[14] 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."[15]
Financesedit
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."[16]
Udall raised more than $801,000 prior to November 29.[17] 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.[18]
Debatesedit
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.[19]
Pollingedit
Source
Date
Steve Pearce (R)
Tom Udall (D)
SurveyUSA
October 5–7, 2007
37%
55%
October 23–27, 2007
33%
50%
SurveyUSA
October 27–30, 2007
40%
56%
November 5–7, 2007
37%
54%
SurveyUSA
November 16–18, 2007
40%
54%
February 11, 2008
31%
53%
February 29, 2008
42%
50%
April 10, 2008
40%
54%
May 14, 2008
37%
53%
SurveyUSA
May 15, 2008
36%
60%
July 24, 2008
35%
61%
August 20, 2008
44%
52%
September 8, 2008
44%
51%
Survey USA
September 16, 2008
41%
56%
Public Policy Polling
September 19, 2008
37%
57%
Survey USA
September 29–30, 2008
39%
58%
October 1, 2008
41%
55%
Survey USA
October 13, 2008
40%
58%
October 13, 2008
37%
57%
October 28, 2008
41%
56%
Survey USA
October 31, 2008
42%
56%
Resultsedit
2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico[20]
2008, united, states, senate, election, mexico, held, november, 2008, coinciding, with, 2008, presidential, election, incumbent, republican, senator, pete, domenici, decided, retire, instead, seeking, seventh, term, three, mexico, representatives, udall, steve. 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 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico 2002 November 4 2008 2014 Nominee Tom Udall Steve PearceParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 505 128 318 522Percentage 61 33 38 67 County resultsUdall 50 60 60 70 70 80 80 90 Pearce 50 60 60 70 70 80 U S senator before electionPete DomeniciRepublican Elected U S Senator Tom UdallDemocraticIn February 2007 Domenici indicated his intention to run for re election 1 By October 2007 he changed his mind stating that because of the progression of a medical condition he would not seek a seventh term 2 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 3 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 1981 and thereby gave New Mexico an all Democratic Congressional delegation for the first time since 1969 Contents 1 Democratic primary 1 1 Candidates 1 2 Campaign 1 3 Results 2 Republican primary 2 1 Candidates 2 2 Polling 2 3 Results 3 General election 3 1 Candidates 3 2 Predictions 3 3 Controversy 3 4 Finances 3 5 Debates 3 6 Polling 3 7 Results 3 7 1 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDemocratic primary editCandidates edit Tom Udall U S RepresentativeCampaign edit 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 4 In October Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez entered the race for the Democratic nomination 5 In early November five term Democratic Rep Tom Udall entered the race 6 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 7 Results edit Democratic primary results 8 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Tom Udall 141 629 100 00 Total votes 141 629 100 00 Republican primary editCandidates edit Steve Pearce U S Representative and candidate in 2000 Heather Wilson U S RepresentativePolling edit Source Date StevePearce HeatherWilsonSurveyUSA November 16 18 2007 37 56 SurveyUSA May 15 2008 49 46 Results edit nbsp Results by county Map legend Pearce gt 90 Pearce 80 90 Pearce 70 80 Pearce 60 70 Pearce 50 60 Wilson 50 60 Wilson 60 70 Wilson 70 80 Republican primary results 8 Party Candidate Votes Republican Steve Pearce 57 953 51 29 Republican Heather Wilson 55 039 48 71 Total votes 112 992 100 00 General election editCandidates edit Tom Udall D U S Representative Steve Pearce R U S RepresentativePredictions edit Source Ranking As ofThe Cook Political Report 9 Lean D flip October 23 2008CQ Politics 10 Likely D flip October 31 2008Rothenberg Political Report 11 Likely D flip November 2 2008Real Clear Politics 12 Likely D flip October 31 2008Controversy edit 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 13 In late October Pearce made 130 000 automated phone calls which led Wilson to cry foul 14 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 15 Finances edit 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 16 Udall raised more than 801 000 prior to November 29 17 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 18 Debates edit 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 19 Polling edit Source Date StevePearce R TomUdall D SurveyUSA October 5 7 2007 37 55 Fairbank Maslin Maullin amp Associates October 23 27 2007 33 50 SurveyUSA October 27 30 2007 40 56 Research 2000 November 5 7 2007 37 54 SurveyUSA November 16 18 2007 40 54 New Mexico State University February 11 2008 31 53 Rasmussen Reports February 29 2008 42 50 Rasmussen Reports April 10 2008 40 54 Rasmussen Reports May 14 2008 37 53 SurveyUSA May 15 2008 36 60 Rasmussen Reports July 24 2008 35 61 Rasmussen Reports August 20 2008 44 52 Rasmussen Reports September 8 2008 44 51 Survey USA September 16 2008 41 56 Public Policy Polling September 19 2008 37 57 Survey USA September 29 30 2008 39 58 Rasmussen Reports October 1 2008 41 55 Survey USA October 13 2008 40 58 Rasmussen Reports October 13 2008 37 57 Rasmussen Reports October 28 2008 41 56 Survey USA October 31 2008 42 56 Results edit 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico 20 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Tom Udall 505 128 61 33 26 37 Republican Steve Pearce 318 522 38 67 26 37 Total votes 823 650 100 00 N ADemocratic gain from RepublicanCounties that flipped from Republican to Democratic edit Bernalillo largest city Albuquerque Dona 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 Espanola Cibola largest city Grants Mora largest city Mora See also edit2008 United States Senate electionsReferences edit Talhelm Jennifer February 13 2007 Domenici I am running in 2008 The Santa Fe New Mexican Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Retrieved February 14 2007 Murray Shailagh October 5 2007 Citing Health GOP s Domenici says he ll retire from Senate The Washington Post Retrieved October 5 2007 Election KOB com Pearce narrowly wins U S Senate nomination permanent dead link Richardson Sticks with Presidential Bid The New York Times Associated Press October 4 2008 Retrieved October 5 2008 Chavez announces U S Senate run KOB TV October 9 2007 Retrieved November 18 2007 NM Rep Tom Udall to Run for Senate Associated Press November 11 2007 Archived from the original on November 12 2007 Retrieved November 11 2007 Chavez drops out of U S Senate race KRQE TV December 7 2007 Archived from the original on January 10 2008 Retrieved December 18 2007 a b Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on March 14 2012 Retrieved December 14 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link 2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23 2008 The Cook Political Report Retrieved April 1 2021 Race Ratings Chart Senate Archived October 28 2010 at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics 2008 Senate ratings Inside Elections Retrieved April 1 2021 2008 RCP Averages amp Senate Results Real Clear Politics Retrieved August 31 2021 Wilson Possibly Udall To Seek Domenici s Senate Seat The Gate October 4 2008 Archived from the original on October 11 2007 Retrieved October 18 2007 Pearce calls voters Wilson cries foul KOB October 22 2007 Retrieved November 18 2007 Senate hopefuls don t inspire Alamogordo Daily News October 31 2007 Retrieved November 18 2007 Davis Susan June 12 2008 Sen Ensign Says GOP Majority Would Be Fairly Miraculous Wall Street Journal blog Ten things to know about Senate hopeful Rep Tom Udall Albuquerque Tribune November 29 2007 Archived from the original on December 24 2007 Retrieved December 11 2007 Wilson pulls 110 000 at Cheney fundraiser The Hill November 16 2007 Retrieved December 11 2007 Senate candidates agree on 3 NM televised debates permanent dead link AP August 17 2008 Office of the Clerk U S House of Representatives External links editElections from the New Mexico Secretary of State U S Congress candidates for New Mexico 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico amp oldid 1185114105, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
