1956 New Mexico gubernatorial election
1956 New Mexico gubernatorial election
County resultsMechem: 50–60%Simms: 50–60% 60–70%
The 1956 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1956, in order to elect the Governor of New Mexico . Incumbent Democrat John F. Simms ran for reelection to a second term but was defeated by former governor Edwin L. Mechem . This was the last gubernatorial election until 1994 in which a Republican carried Sandoval County .
Primary election
Democratic primary
The Democratic primary was won by incumbent governor John F. Simms .
Results
Republican primary
The Republican primary was won by former governor Edwin L. Mechem .
Results [data missing ]
General election
Results
Results by county
County
Edwin L. Mechem Republican
John F. Simms Democratic
Margin
Total votes cast
#
%
#
%
#
%
Bernalillo
38,207
59.02%
26,525
40.98%
11,682
18.05%
64,732
Catron
668
56.18%
521
43.82%
147
12.36%
1,189
Chaves
6,167
52.23%
5,640
47.77%
527
4.46%
11,807
Colfax
2,907
54.40%
2,437
45.60%
470
8.79%
5,344
Curry
4,371
52.38%
3,974
47.62%
397
4.76%
8,345
De Baca
652
50.15%
648
49.85%
4
0.31%
1,300
Doña Ana
6,476
54.50%
5,407
45.50%
1,069
9.00%
11,883
Eddy
5,346
37.10%
9,065
62.90%
-3,719
-25.81%
14,411
Grant
2,772
38.29%
4,467
61.71%
-1,695
-23.41%
7,239
Guadalupe
1,443
53.07%
1,276
46.93%
167
6.14%
2,719
Harding
632
57.82%
461
42.18%
171
15.65%
1,093
Hidalgo
589
37.93%
964
62.07%
-375
-24.15%
1,553
Lea
4,401
37.87%
7,220
62.13%
-2,819
-24.26%
11,621
Lincoln
1,790
59.59%
1,214
40.41%
576
19.17%
3,004
Los Alamos
1,689
36.69%
2,914
63.31%
-1,225
-26.61%
4,603
Luna
1,151
38.52%
1,837
61.48%
-686
-22.96%
2,988
McKinley
4,329
56.03%
3,397
43.97%
932
12.06%
7,726
Mora
1,736
58.59%
1,227
41.41%
509
17.18%
2,963
Otero
3,097
48.58%
3,278
51.42%
-181
-2.84%
6,375
Quay
2,095
48.60%
2,216
51.40%
-121
-2.81%
4,311
Rio Arriba
4,721
53.40%
4,119
46.60%
602
6.81%
8,840
Roosevelt
2,315
46.64%
2,649
53.36%
-334
-6.73%
4,964
San Juan
4,067
53.83%
3,488
46.17%
579
7.66%
7,555
San Miguel
4,984
54.54%
4,154
45.46%
830
9.08%
9,138
Sandoval
1,837
53.68%
1,585
46.32%
252
7.36%
3,422
Santa Fe
8,392
51.59%
7,875
48.41%
517
3.18%
16,267
Sierra
1,734
58.27%
1,242
41.73%
492
16.53%
2,976
Socorro
2,149
56.01%
1,688
43.99%
461
12.01%
3,837
Taos
3,162
54.19%
2,673
45.81%
489
8.38%
5,835
Torrance
1,461
53.01%
1,295
46.99%
166
6.02%
2,756
Union
1,394
50.42%
1,371
49.58%
23
0.83%
2,765
Valencia
4,754
58.05%
3,436
41.95%
1,318
16.09%
8,190
Total
131,488
52.23%
120,263
47.77%
11,225
4.46%
251,751
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
References
^ "NM Governor D Primary 1956" . Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 1, 2017 .
^ New Mexico State Records Center & Archives, Canvass of Returns of General Election Held November 6, 1956 - State of New Mexico
^ New Mexico Secretary of State. New Mexico Election Returns 1911-1969 . Santa Fe, New Mexico.