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1974 New Mexico gubernatorial election

The 1974 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1974, in order to elect the Governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Democrat Bruce King was ineligible to seek a second term as governor. Democrat Jerry Apodaca narrowly defeated Republican Joe Skeen. This election saw Hidalgo County vote for a Republican gubernatorial candidate for the first time ever.

1974 New Mexico gubernatorial election
← 1970 November 5, 1974 1978 →
 
Nominee Jerry Apodaca Joe Skeen
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 164,172 160,430
Percentage 49.94% 48.80%
County results
Apodaca:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Skeen:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Bruce King
Democratic

Elected Governor

Jerry Apodaca
Democratic

Primary election

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Democratic primary

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The Democratic primary was won by state senator Jerry Apodaca.

Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jerry Apodaca 45,477 30.58%
Democratic Tibo J. Chavez 35,090 23.61%
Democratic Odis Echols 25,760 17.33%
Democratic Bobby M. Mayfield 22,806 15.35%
Democratic Drew Cloud 12,707 8.55%
Democratic Boston Witt 6,798 4.57%
Total votes 148,636 100.00%

Republican primary

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The Republican primary was won by former state senator Joe Skeen.

Results

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen 28,227 55.43%
Republican John P. Eastham 15,003 29.46%
Republican James L. Hughes 4,758 9.34%
Republican Walter E. Bruce 2,913 5.72%
Republican Scattering 26 0.05%
Total votes 50,927 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1974 New Mexico gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jerry Apodaca 164,172 49.94% −1.32%
Republican Joe Skeen 160,430 48.80% +2.43%
American Independent Gene Gonzales 4,140 1.24%
Scattering 78 0.02%
Majority 3,742 1.14%
Total votes 328,742 100.00%
Democratic hold Swing -3.75%

Results by county

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County Jerry Apodaca
Democratic 		Joe Skeen
Republican 		Gene Gonzales
AIP 		Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # %
Bernalillo 49,287 45.65% 56,799 52.61% 1,820 1.69% -7,512 -6.96% 107,960[a]
Catron 433 40.73% 617 58.04% 13 1.22% -184 -17.31% 1,063
Chaves 5,068 34.04% 9,744 65.44% 75 0.50% -4,676 -31.40% 14,890[b]
Colfax 1,909 46.87% 2,128 52.25% 34 0.83% -219 -5.38% 4,073[c]
Curry 2,828 35.83% 5,014 63.53% 50 0.63% -2,186 -27.70% 7,892
De Baca 428 41.88% 588 57.53% 6 0.59% -160 -15.66% 1,022
Doña Ana 11,511 55.49% 9,007 43.42% 225 1.08% 2,504 12.07% 20,745[c]
Eddy 7,162 52.08% 6,517 47.39% 74 0.54% 645 4.69% 13,753
Grant 4,117 54.25% 3,395 44.74% 77 1.01% 722 9.51% 7,589
Guadalupe 1,550 71.40% 606 27.91% 15 0.69% 944 43.48% 2,171
Harding 254 41.23% 360 58.44% 2 0.32% -106 -17.21% 616
Hidalgo 629 47.19% 688 51.61% 16 1.20% -59 -4.43% 1,333
Lea 4,389 39.48% 6,666 59.96% 62 0.56% -2,277 -20.48% 11,117
Lincoln 1,168 35.95% 2,049 63.07% 31 0.95% -881 -27.12% 3,249[d]
Los Alamos 2,640 39.41% 3,932 58.70% 126 1.88% -1,292 -19.29% 6,699[d]
Luna 2,005 43.25% 2,578 55.61% 53 1.14% -573 -12.36% 4,636
McKinley 5,019 60.87% 3,021 36.64% 206 2.50% 1,998 24.23% 8,246
Mora 1,516 62.52% 902 37.20% 7 0.29% 614 25.32% 2,425
Otero 4,167 47.60% 4,478 51.15% 109 1.25% -311 -3.55% 8,754
Quay 1,609 42.20% 2,174 57.02% 30 0.79% -565 -14.82% 3,813
Rio Arriba 7,210 78.10% 1,974 21.38% 48 0.52% 5,236 56.72% 9,232
Roosevelt 1,912 36.44% 3,296 62.82% 39 0.74% -1,384 -26.38% 5,247
San Juan 5,855 40.42% 8,382 57.86% 249 1.72% -2,527 -17.44% 14,487[d]
San Miguel 5,495 69.33% 2,354 29.70% 77 0.97% 3,141 39.63% 7,926
Sandoval 4,069 61.07% 2,476 37.16% 116 1.74% 1,593 23.91% 6,663[c]
Santa Fe 14,154 64.15% 7,706 34.92% 193 0.87% 6,448 29.22% 22,065[e]
Sierra 924 37.33% 1,514 61.17% 37 1.49% -590 -23.84% 2,475
Socorro 2,420 58.41% 1,689 40.77% 34 0.82% 731 17.64% 4,143
Taos 4,618 73.30% 1,635 25.95% 47 0.75% 2,983 47.35% 6,300
Torrance 1,152 44.39% 1,415 54.53% 28 1.08% -263 -10.13% 2,595
Union 783 38.74% 1,206 59.67% 32 1.58% -423 -20.93% 2,021
Valencia 7,891 58.27% 5,520 40.76% 131 0.97% 2,371 17.51% 13,542
Total 164,172 49.94% 160,430 48.80% 4,062 1.24% 3,742 1.14% 328,742

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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Notes

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  1. ^ Includes 54 write-in votes
  2. ^ Includes 3 write-in votes
  3. ^ a b c Includes 2 write-in votes
  4. ^ a b c Includes 1 write-in vote
  5. ^ Includes 12 write-in votes

References

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  1. ^ a b Richard M. Scammon. America Votes 11, A Handbook of Contemporary American Election Statistics. p. 224. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  2. ^ New Mexico State Records Center & Archives, Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 5, 1974 - State of New Mexico
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