# New Mexico's 3rd congressional district

New Mexico's 3rd congressional district serves the northern half of New Mexico, including the state's Capital, Santa Fe. The district has a significant Native American presence, encompassing most of the New Mexico portion of the Navajo Nation, situated in the northwest corner of the state, and most of the Puebloan peoples reservations. The current Representative is Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez.

## History

The district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census. Ben Ray Luján, who was elected to the seat in 2008, ran successfully for the United States Senate in 2020, leaving the seat open. Democratic nominee Teresa Leger Fernandez defeated Republican Alexis Johnson in the 2020 general election.

### Historical district boundaries
## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 56% - 42% |
| 2008 | Senate | Udall 64% - 36% |
| 2010 | Governor | Martinez 50.4% - 49.6% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Duran 56% - 44% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | King 57% - 43% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Lewis 57% - 43% |
| 2010 | Auditor | Balderas 58% - 42% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 57% - 43% |
| 2012 | Senate | Heinrich 52% - 44% |
| 2014 | Senate | Udall 60% - 40% |
| 2014 | Governor | Martinez 53% - 47% |
| 2014 | Secretary of State | Duran 50.3% - 49.7% |
| 2014 | Attorney General | Balderas 61% - 39% |
| 2014 | Treasurer | Eichenberg 55% - 45% |
| 2014 | Auditor | Keller 56% - 44% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 50% - 39% |
| 2016 | Secretary of State (Spec.) | Toulouse Oliver 57% - 43% |
| 2018 | Senate | Heinrich 56% - 30% |
| 2018 | Governor | Lujan Grisham 59% - 41% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Balderas 62% - 33% |
| 2018 | Auditor | Colón 59% - 41% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 54% - 44% |
| 2020 | Senate | Ray Luján 53% - 45% |
| 2022 | Governor | Lujan Grisham 54% - 44% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Toulouse Oliver 55% - 42% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Torrez 57% - 43% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | L. Montoya 55% - 45% |
| 2022 | Auditor | Maestas 63% - 37% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 51% - 46% |
| 2024 | Senate | Heinrich 55% - 45% |

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Colfax County (7)
    All 7 communities
Chaves County (5)
    Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, Midway, Roswell (part; also 1st)
Curry County (5)
    All 5 communities
Eddy County (3)
    Artesia, Atoka (part; also 2nd), Morningside
Harding County (2)
    Mosquero (shared with San Miguel County), Roy
Lea County (4)
    Hobbs (part; also 2nd), Lovington, North Hobbs, Tatum
Los Alamos County (2)
    Los Alamos, White Rock
McKinley County (41)
    Becenti, Black Hat, Black Rock, Bluewater, Borrego Pass, Brimhall Nizhoni, Catalpa Canyon, Church Rock, Continental Divide, Crestview, Crownpoint, Crystal (shared with San Juan County), Fort Wingate, Gallup, Gamerco, Haystack, Homer C Jones, Iyanbito, Jamestown, Manuelito, McGaffey, Nakaibito, Navajo, Ojo Encino, Pinedale, Pinehaven, Prewitt, Pueblo Pintado, Purty Rock, Red Rock Ranch, Rock Springs, Sagar, Sundance, Thoreau, Tohatchi, Tse Bonito, Twin Lakes, Vanderwagen, White Cliffs, Williams Acres, Yah-ta-hey
Mora County (3)
    All 3 communities
Quay County (5)
    All 5 communities
Rio Arriba County (41)
    All 41 communities
Roosevelt County (5)
    All 5 communities
Sandoval County (21)
    Algodones, Cañon, Cochiti, Cochiti Lake, Cuba, Jemez Pueblo, Jemez Springs, La Cueva, La Jara, Peña Blanca, Ponderosa, Regina, Rio Rancho (part; also 1st), Rio Rancho Estates (part; also 1st), San Felipe Pueblo, San Luis, Santa Ana Pueblo, Santo Domingo Pueblo, San Ysidro, Torreon, Zia Pueblo
San Juan County (35)
    All 35 communities
San Miguel County (15)
    All 15 communities
Santa Fe County (51)
    Agua Fria, Arroyo Hondo, Cañada de los Alimos, Chimayo (shard with Rio Arriba County), Cedar Grove (part; also 1st), Chupadero, Conejo, Cuartelez, Cundiyo, Cuyamungue, Cuyamungue Grant, Eldorado at Santa Fe, El Rancho, El Valle de Arroyo Seco, Encantado, Española, Galisteo, Glorieta, Golden, Hyde Park, Jacona, Jaconita, La Bajada, La Cienega, La Cueva, Lamy, La Puebla, Las Campanas, La Tierra, Los Cerrillos, Madrid, Nambé, Peak Place, Pojoaque, Rio Chiquito, Rio en Medio, San Ildefonso Pueblo, San Pedro (part; also 1st), Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Foothills, Seton Village, Sombrillo, Stanley, Sunlit Hills, Tano Road, Tesuque, Tesuque Pueblo, Tres Arroyos, Valencia, Valle Vista
Taos County (17)
    All 15 communities
Union County (5)
    All 5 communities

## List of members representing the district

| Member (District home) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District boundaries |
| District established January 3, 1983 ||||||
| Bill Richardson (Santa Fe) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – February 13, 1997 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. | 1983–1993 Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, and Valencia |
| Bill Richardson (Santa Fe) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – February 13, 1997 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th | Elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. | 1993–2003 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, Cibola, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Vacant | Vacant | February 13, 1997 – May 13, 1997 | 105th | | 1993–2003 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, Cibola, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Bill Redmond (Santa Fe) | Republican | May 13, 1997 – January 3, 1999 | 105th | Elected to finish Richardson's term. Lost re-election. | 1993–2003 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, Cibola, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Tom Udall (Santa Fe) | Democratic | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2009 | 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 1993–2003 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, Cibola, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Tom Udall (Santa Fe) | Democratic | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2009 | 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 2003–2013 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, McKinley, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Ben Ray Luján (Nambé) | Democratic | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2021 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 2003–2013 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, McKinley, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Ben Ray Luján (Nambé) | Democratic | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2021 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Retired to run for U.S. senator. | 2013–2023 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, McKinley, Roosevelt, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Teresa Leger Fernandez (Santa Fe) | Democratic | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, McKinley, Roosevelt, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |
| Teresa Leger Fernandez (Santa Fe) | Democratic | January 3, 2021 – present | 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Chaves, Eddy, Lea, McKinley, Sandoval, and Santa Fe |

## Election results
### 1982

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson | 84,669 | 64.49 |
| | Republican | Marjorie Bell Chambers | 46,466 | 35.39 |
| | Write-in | | 158 | 0.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 131,293 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) | Democratic win (new seat) |

### 1984

1984 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson (incumbent) | 100,470 | 60.81 |
| | Republican | Louis H. Gallegos | 62,351 | 37.74 |
| | Libertarian | Shirley Machocky Jones | 2,388 | 1.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 165,209 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1986

1986 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson (incumbent) | 95,760 | 71.30 |
| | Republican | David F. Cargo | 38,552 | 28.70 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 134,312 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1988

1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson (incumbent) | 124,938 | 73.11 |
| | Republican | Cecilia M. Salazar | 45,954 | 26.89 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 170,892 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1990

1990 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson (incumbent) | 104,225 | 74.46 |
| | Republican | Phil T. Archuletta | 35,751 | 25.54 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 139,976 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson (incumbent) | 122,850 | 67.42 |
| | Republican | F. Gregg Bemis Jr. | 54,569 | 29.95 |
| | Libertarian | Ed Nagel | 4,798 | 2.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 182,217 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1994

1994 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson (incumbent) | 99,900 | 63.59 |
| | Republican | F. Gregg Bemis Jr. | 53,515 | 34.06 |
| | Libertarian | Ed Nagel | 3,697 | 2.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 157,112 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1996

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Richardson (incumbent) | 124,594 | 67.25 |
| | Republican | Bill Redmond | 56,580 | 30.54 |
| | Libertarian | Ed Nagel | 4,097 | 2.21 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 185,271 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 1997 (Special)

1997 New Mexico's 3rd congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Redmond | 43,559 | 42.75 |
| | Democratic | Eric P. Serna | 40,542 | 39.79 |
| | Green | Carol Miller | 17,101 | 16.78 |
| | Libertarian | Ed Nagel | 393 | 0.39 |
| | Reform | Daniel Pearlman | 304 | 0.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 101,899 | 100.00 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 1998

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Udall | 91,248 | 53.16 |
| | Republican | Bill Redmond (incumbent) | 74,266 | 43.27 |
| | Green | Carol Miller | 6,103 | 3.56 |
| | Write-in | | 32 | 0.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 171,649 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2000

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Udall (incumbent) | 135,040 | 67.18 |
| | Republican | Lisa L. Lutz | 65,979 | 32.82 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 201,019 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Udall (incumbent) | 122,921 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 122,921 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Udall (incumbent) | 175,269 | 68.68 |
| | Republican | Gregory M. Tucker | 79,935 | 31.32 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 255,204 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Udall (incumbent) | 144,880 | 74.64 |
| | Republican | Ronald M. Dolin | 49,219 | 25.36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 194,099 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2008

2008 Democratic Primary Congressional Election, District 3 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Ben Ray Luján | 26,667 | 41.58 |
| Democratic | Don Wiviott | 16,314 | 25.44 |
| Democratic | Benny J. Shendo Jr. | 10,113 | 15.77 |
| Democratic | Harry Montoya | 7,205 | 11.23 |
| Democratic | Jon Adams | 1,993 | 3.11 |
| Democratic | Rudy Martin | 1,838 | 2.87 |
2008 Republican Primary Congressional Election, District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel K. East | 14,767 | 53.89 |
| | Republican | Marco Gonzales | 12,634 | 46.11 |
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Ray Luján | 161,292 | 56.74 |
| | Republican | Daniel K. East | 86,618 | 30.47 |
| | Independent | Carol Miller | 36,348 | 12.79 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 284,258 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Ray Luján (incumbent) | 120,057 | 56.99 |
| | Republican | Thomas E. Mullins | 90,621 | 43.01 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 210,678 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Ray Luján (incumbent) | 167,103 | 63.12 |
| | Republican | Jefferson L. Byrd | 97,616 | 36.88 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 264,719 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Ray Luján (incumbent) | 113,249 | 61.52 |
| | Republican | Jefferson Byrd | 70,775 | 38.45 |
| | Republican | Thomas Hook (Write-In) | 52 | 0.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 184,076 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Ray Luján (incumbent) | 170,612 | 62.42 |
| | Republican | Michael H. Romero | 102,730 | 37.58 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 273,342 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ben Ray Luján (incumbent) | 155,201 | 63.4 |
| | Republican | Jerald S. McFall | 76,427 | 31.2 |
| | Libertarian | Christopher Manning | 13,265 | 5.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 244,893 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Teresa Leger Fernandez | 186,282 | 58.7 |
| | Republican | Alexis Martinez Johnson | 131,166 | 41.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 317,448 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Teresa Leger Fernandez (incumbent) | 134,217 | 58.2 |
| | Republican | Alexis Martinez Johnson | 96,565 | 41.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 230,782 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2024

2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Teresa Leger Fernandez (incumbent) | 162,342 | 56.3 |
| | Republican | Sharon Clahchischilliage | 126,085 | 43.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 288,427 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |