# 1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election

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The 1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1970, in order to elect the Governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Republican David Cargo was ineligible to seek a third term as governor. This election was the first in which the governor was elected for a four-year term. Prior to this, the governor was elected to a two-year term, renewable once. This was the last time until 2006 that a Democrat carried Otero County and Sierra County.

## Primary election
### Democratic primary

The Democratic primary was won by state representative Bruce King.

#### Campaign

A major issue in the election was how the University of New Mexico should deal with anti-war protesters. Defenders of the University did so on the grounds of free speech, and opponents argued on the grounds of law and order.
Jack Daniels ran as a moderate liberal candidate, and he became the strongest defender of the University of New Mexico throughout the campaign. King was the other moderate liberal candidate, and he and Daniels agreed on most issues, with them both supporting the University of New Mexico. However, Daniels was more vigorous in his support, constantly advertising and emphasizing that he supported the University's position, while King mostly avoided the issue. On the other hand, Alexander Sceresse attacked the University, calling for law and order. The Democratic primary had above-average turnout, with 54% voting, and King beat Daniels 49%–37%, with Sceresse only getting 14% of the vote. Bruce King then went on to become Governor of New Mexico.

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bruce King | 62,718 | 48.94% |
| | Democratic | Jack Daniels | 47,523 | 37.08% |
| | Democratic | Alexander Sceresse | 17,918 | 13.98% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 128,159 | 100.00% |

### Republican primary

The Republican primary was won by Mayor of Albuquerque Pete Domenici.

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Pete Domenici | 25,881 | 45.99% |
| | Republican | Stephen C. Helbing | 13,265 | 23.57% |
| | Republican | Edward M. Hartman | 5,309 | 9.43% |
| | Republican | Tom Clear | 5,262 | 9.35% |
| | Republican | Junio Lopez | 4,272 | 7.59% |
| | Republican | Edward V. Balcomb | 2,289 | 4.07% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,278 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Results

1970 New Mexico gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Bruce King | 148,835 | 51.26% | +1.96% |
| | Republican | Pete Domenici | 134,640 | 46.37% | −3.84% |
| | Independent | John A. Salazar | 4,652 | 1.60% | |
| | People's Constitutional | Wilfredo Sedillo | 2,237 | 0.77% | +0.29% |
| | | Scattering | 11 | 0.00% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,195 | 4.89% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 290,375 | 100.00% | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | +5.80% | |

### Results by county

| County | Bruce King Democratic | Bruce King Democratic | Pete V. Domenici Republican | Pete V. Domenici Republican | John A. Salazar Independent | John A. Salazar Independent | Wilfredo Sedillo PCP | Wilfredo Sedillo PCP | Margin | Margin | Total votes cast |
| County | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total votes cast |
| Bernalillo | 40,973 | 43.65% | 49,882 | 53.14% | 2,276 | 2.42% | 725 | 0.77% | -8,909 | -9.49% | 93,864 |
| Catron | 638 | 62.00% | 382 | 37.12% | 3 | 0.29% | 6 | 0.58% | 256 | 24.88% | 1,029 |
| Chaves | 4,887 | 41.22% | 6,834 | 57.65% | 49 | 0.41% | 85 | 0.72% | -1,947 | -16.42% | 11,855 |
| Colfax | 2,418 | 55.57% | 1,860 | 42.75% | 48 | 1.10% | 25 | 0.57% | 558 | 12.82% | 4,351 |
| Curry | 4,679 | 55.92% | 3,642 | 43.53% | 12 | 0.14% | 34 | 0.41% | 1,037 | 12.39% | 8,367 |
| De Baca | 647 | 68.39% | 289 | 30.55% | 6 | 0.63% | 4 | 0.42% | 358 | 37.84% | 946 |
| Doña Ana | 8,751 | 53.22% | 7,416 | 45.10% | 144 | 0.88% | 133 | 0.81% | 1,335 | 8.12% | 16,444 |
| Eddy | 7,129 | 57.58% | 5,127 | 41.41% | 48 | 0.39% | 77 | 0.62% | 2,002 | 16.17% | 12,381 |
| Grant | 4,435 | 61.84% | 2,597 | 36.21% | 84 | 1.17% | 56 | 0.78% | 1,838 | 25.63% | 7,172 |
| Guadalupe | 1,206 | 58.40% | 844 | 40.87% | 4 | 0.19% | 11 | 0.53% | 362 | 17.53% | 2,065 |
| Harding | 312 | 47.20% | 341 | 51.59% | 4 | 0.61% | 4 | 0.61% | -29 | -4.39% | 661 |
| Hidalgo | 925 | 70.77% | 371 | 28.39% | 3 | 0.23% | 8 | 0.61% | 554 | 42.39% | 1,307 |
| Lea | 7,375 | 57.68% | 5,320 | 41.60% | 34 | 0.27% | 58 | 0.45% | 2,055 | 16.07% | 12,787 |
| Lincoln | 1,199 | 46.80% | 1,336 | 52.15% | 17 | 0.66% | 10 | 0.39% | -137 | -5.35% | 2,562 |
| Los Alamos | 2,230 | 37.47% | 3,466 | 58.24% | 225 | 3.78% | 30 | 0.50% | -1,236 | -20.77% | 5,951 |
| Luna | 1,911 | 56.89% | 1,419 | 42.24% | 9 | 0.27% | 20 | 0.60% | 492 | 14.65% | 3,359 |
| McKinley | 4,295 | 52.60% | 3,613 | 44.25% | 125 | 1.53% | 132 | 1.62% | 682 | 8.35% | 8,165 |
| Mora | 1,084 | 55.25% | 850 | 43.32% | 23 | 1.17% | 5 | 0.25% | 234 | 11.93% | 1,962 |
| Otero | 4,423 | 52.87% | 3,676 | 43.94% | 189 | 2.26% | 78 | 0.93% | 747 | 8.93% | 8,366 |
| Quay | 2,306 | 60.99% | 1,440 | 38.09% | 11 | 0.29% | 24 | 0.63% | 866 | 22.90% | 3,781 |
| Rio Arriba | 5,379 | 62.58% | 3,030 | 35.25% | 138 | 1.61% | 49 | 0.57% | 2,349 | 27.33% | 8,596 |
| Roosevelt | 2,340 | 54.30% | 1,916 | 44.47% | 24 | 0.56% | 29 | 0.67% | 424 | 9.84% | 4,309 |
| San Juan | 5,491 | 46.29% | 5,982 | 50.43% | 214 | 1.80% | 176 | 1.48% | -491 | -4.14% | 11,863 |
| San Miguel | 3,876 | 54.50% | 2,952 | 41.51% | 204 | 2.87% | 80 | 1.12% | 924 | 12.99% | 7,112 |
| Sandoval | 3,239 | 64.72% | 1,626 | 32.49% | 98 | 1.96% | 42 | 0.84% | 1,613 | 32.23% | 5,005 |
| Santa Fe | 11,147 | 60.47% | 6,805 | 36.92% | 386 | 2.09% | 93 | 0.50% | 4,342 | 23.56% | 18,433 |
| Sierra | 1,295 | 52.69% | 1,115 | 45.36% | 17 | 0.69% | 31 | 1.26% | 180 | 7.32% | 2,458 |
| Socorro | 1,971 | 49.36% | 1,974 | 49.44% | 33 | 0.83% | 15 | 0.38% | -3 | -0.08% | 3,993 |
| Taos | 3,175 | 56.24% | 2,363 | 41.86% | 61 | 1.08% | 45 | 0.80% | 812 | 14.38% | 5,645 |
| Torrance | 1,566 | 67.01% | 737 | 31.54% | 19 | 0.81% | 15 | 0.64% | 829 | 35.47% | 2,337 |
| Union | 1,143 | 60.28% | 731 | 38.55% | 4 | 0.21% | 18 | 0.95% | 412 | 21.73% | 1,896 |
| Valencia | 6,390 | 56.28% | 4,704 | 41.43% | 140 | 1.23% | 119 | 1.05% | 1,686 | 14.85% | 11,353 |
| Total | 148,835 | 51.26% | 134,640 | 46.37% | 4,652 | 1.60% | 2,237 | 0.77% | 14,195 | 4.89% | 290,375 |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Catron
* Curry
* Eddy
* Lea
* Luna
* Mora
* Quay
* Roosevelt
* San Miguel
* Sierra
* Torrance
* Union

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Socorro