1982 United States Senate election in New Mexico

The 1982 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 3, 1982. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Harrison Schmitt was running for re-election to a second term, but lost to Democrat Jeff Bingaman.

1982 United States Senate election in New Mexico
November 3, 1982
 
Nominee Jeff Bingaman Harrison Schmitt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 217,682 187,128
Percentage 53.8% 46.2%
County results
Bingaman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Schmitt:      50–60%      60–70%
U.S. senator before election

Harrison Schmitt
Republican

 Elected U.S. Senator

Jeff Bingaman
Democratic

Elections in New Mexico
General elections
Federal elections
Presidential elections
Presidential primaries
Senate elections
House of Representatives elections
State elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
State House elections
City of Albuquerque
Mayoral elections

Major candidates

Democratic

Republican

Campaign

Bingaman ran advertisements that criticized Schmitt's views on a minimum Social Security and mining on federally protected land.[1] Schmitt countered these ads by criticizing Bingaman's work as attorney general, citing the handling of the 1980 state prison riot and asking the governor to pardon an inmate that was on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List.[1] Another ad that Bingaman ran asked, "What on Earth has he done for you lately?"[2]

The two negative ads that Schmitt ran were received poorly and later pulled.[3]

Results

The turnout was approximately 70%.[3]

United States Senate election in New Mexico, 1982[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jeff Bingaman 217,682 53.77% +11.07%
Republican Harrison Schmitt (incumbent) 187,128 46.23% -10.59%
Majority 30,554 7.55% -6.57%
Turnout 404,810
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

Aftermath

Schmitt thought the media was biased against him during the campaign.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Schmitt prepares to leave office". Manitowoc Herald-Times. Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Associated Press. November 29, 1982. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "The Astronauts Who Went to the Moon - The 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing - TIME". TIME.com. July 16, 2009.
  3. Reinhold, Robert (November 3, 1982). "Schmitt Loses New Mexico Senate Seat". New York Times. p. A23. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  4. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1982election.pdf


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