2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico

The 2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a sixth term. Democratic U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich won the open seat.

Background
Incumbent Jeff Bingaman won re-election to a fifth term with 70.61% of the vote against Allen McCulloch in the 2006 U.S. senatorial election in New Mexico.

Declared

 * Hector Balderas, state auditor
 * Martin Heinrich, U.S. Representative

Withdrew

 * Martin Chávez, former Albuquerque mayor and 1998 Democratic gubernatorial nominee (withdrew to run for U.S. House)
 * Andres Valdez, anti-police brutality social justice activist

Declined

 * Jeff Bingaman, incumbent U.S. senator
 * Diane Denish, former New Mexico lieutenant governor and 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nominee
 * Ben Ray Luján, U.S. representative

Results
[[File:NM Senate Democratic primary, 2012.svg|thumb|Results by county {{legend|#6674de|Heinrich}}

{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}

{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}

{{legend|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend|#37c837|Balderas}}

{{legend|#5fd35f|50–60%}}

{{legend|#37c837|60–70%}}

{{legend|#2ca02c|70–80%}} ]]

Declared

 * Greg Sowards, businessman
 * Heather Wilson, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008

Withdrew

 * Bill English, businessman
 * John Sanchez, Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico and nominee for governor in 2002

Declined

 * Janice Arnold-Jones, former state representative
 * Gary Johnson, former governor (ran for President)
 * Steve Pearce, U.S. Representative, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2000, and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008

Results
[[File:NM U.S. Senate Republican primary, 2012.svg|thumb|Results by county: {{legend|#d40000|Wilson—70–80%}} {{legend|#cc2f4a|Wilson—60–70%}} {{legend|#e27f90|Wilson—50–60%}}

{{legend|#ff9955|Sowards—50–60%}} ]]

Candidates

 * Jon Barrie (Independent American Party), alternative medicine practitioner and Air Force veteran
 * Martin Heinrich (D), U.S. Representative
 * Heather Wilson (R), former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, October 17, 2012 - C-SPAN
 * Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 - C-SPAN

Polling

 * with Jeff Bingaman


 * with Hector Balderas


 * with Ben Ray Luján


 * with Martin Heinrich

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Chaves (largest village: Roswell)
 * Curry (largest village: Clovis)
 * Eddy (largest city: Carlsbad)
 * Harding (largest city: Roy)
 * Hidalgo (largest city: Lordsburg)
 * Lea (largest city: Hobbs)
 * Lincoln (largest city: Roidoso)
 * Otero (largest city: Alamogordo)
 * Quay (largest city: Tucumcari)
 * Roosevelt (largest city: Portales)
 * Sandoval (largest city: Rancho)
 * San Juan (largest city: Farmington)
 * Sierra (largest city: Truth or Consequences)
 * Torrance (largest city: Moriarty)
 * Union (largest city: Clayton)
 * Valencia (largest village: Los Lunas)
 * De Baca (largest city: Fort Sumner)
 * Los Alamos (largest city: Los Alamos)
 * Catron (largest city: Reserve)

Results by congressional district
Heinrich won 2 of 3 congressional districts.