1966 New Mexico gubernatorial election

1966 New Mexico gubernatorial election
← 1964 November 8, 1966 1968 →
 
Nominee David Cargo Gene Lusk
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 134,625 125,587
Percentage 51.73% 48.26%
County results
Cargo:      50–60%      60–70%
Lusk:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Jack M. Campbell
Democratic

Elected Governor

David Cargo
Republican

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The 1966 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1966, in order to elect the Governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Democrat Jack M. Campbell could not run for reelection to a third term. Republican David Cargo defeated Democrat Gene Lusk in a close race.

Primary election

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary was won by former state senator Gene Lusk.

Results

New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1966[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gene Lusk 85,211 59.86%
Democratic John Burroughs 57,143 40.14%
Total votes 142,354 100.00%

Republican primary

The Republican primary was won by state representative David Cargo.

Results

New Mexico Republican gubernatorial primary, 1966[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Cargo 17,836 51.81%
Republican Clifford J. Hawley 16,588 48.19%
Total votes 34,424 100.00%

General election

Results

1966 New Mexico gubernatorial election[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican David Cargo 134,625 51.73% +11.95%
Democratic Gene Lusk 125,587 48.26% −11.95%
Scattering 20 0.01%
Majority 9,038 3.47%
Total votes 260,232 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing +23.90%

Results by county

County David Cargo
Republican 		Gene Lusk
Democratic 		Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # %
Bernalillo 50,274 63.08% 29,431 36.92% 20,843 26.15% 79,705
Catron 555 53.57% 481 46.43% 74 7.14% 1,036
Chaves 6,380 53.31% 5,582 46.64% 798 6.67% 11,967[a]
Colfax 1,719 40.47% 2,529 59.53% -810 -19.07% 4,248
Curry 3,624 47.19% 4,055 52.81% -431 -5.61% 7,679
De Baca 354 38.60% 563 61.40% -209 -22.79% 917
Doña Ana 6,568 48.52% 6,969 51.48% -401 -2.96% 13,537
Eddy 5,297 39.27% 8,191 60.72% -2,894 -21.45% 13,489[b]
Grant 1,969 32.49% 4,091 67.51% -2,122 -35.02% 6,060
Guadalupe 1,025 46.17% 1,195 53.83% -170 -7.66% 2,220
Harding 391 52.20% 358 47.80% 33 4.41% 749
Hidalgo 346 29.32% 834 70.68% -488 -41.36% 1,180
Lea 4,226 39.20% 6,553 60.79% -2,327 -21.59% 10,780[b]
Lincoln 1,423 56.63% 1,090 43.37% 333 13.25% 2,513
Los Alamos 2,646 54.75% 2,185 45.21% 461 9.54% 4,833[c]
Luna 1,161 38.78% 1,833 61.22% -672 -22.44% 2,994
McKinley 3,069 47.63% 3,375 52.37% -306 -4.75% 6,444
Mora 1,195 51.09% 1,144 48.91% 51 2.18% 2,339
Otero 3,159 43.63% 4,082 56.37% -923 -12.75% 7,241
Quay 1,556 43.83% 1,994 56.17% -438 -12.34% 3,550
Rio Arriba 3,209 39.85% 4,843 60.15% -1,634 -20.29% 8,052
Roosevelt 1,838 48.66% 1,939 51.34% -101 -2.67% 3,777
San Juan 5,734 53.83% 4,918 46.17% 816 7.66% 10,652
San Miguel 4,134 53.29% 3,623 46.71% 511 6.59% 7,757
Sandoval 1,505 39.99% 2,257 59.98% -752 -19.98% 3,763[b]
Santa Fe 7,945 48.69% 8,369 51.29% -424 -2.60% 16,318[d]
Sierra 1,349 54.93% 1,106 45.03% 243 9.89% 2,456[b]
Socorro 1,963 51.50% 1,849 48.50% 114 2.99% 3,812
Taos 2,670 46.98% 3,010 52.96% -340 -5.98% 5,683[e]
Torrance 1,227 51.99% 1,131 47.92% 96 4.07% 2,360[c]
Union 893 44.54% 1,112 55.46% -219 -10.92% 2,005
Valencia 5,221 51.61% 4,895 48.39% 326 3.22% 10,116
Total 134,625 51.73% 125,587 48.26% 9,038 3.47% 260,232

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Notes

  1. ^ Includes 5 write-in votes
  2. ^ a b c d Includes 1 write-in vote
  3. ^ a b Includes 2 write-in votes
  4. ^ Includes 4 write-in votes
  5. ^ Includes 3 write-in votes

References

  1. ^ "NM Governor D Primary 1966". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  2. ^ "NM Governor R Primary 1966". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  3. ^ New Mexico State Records Center & Archives, Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 8, 1966 - State of New Mexico
  4. ^ New Mexico Secretary of State. New Mexico Election Returns 1911-1969. Santa Fe, New Mexico.