New Mexico held its general election on November 4, 2014, deciding 70 legislative seats and 7 statewide offices led by the governorship. Control shifted: the House moved from a 38-32 Democratic majority to a 37-33 Republican majority. The Senate was not up for regular election this cycle.
Highlights
- Republicans won the state House for the first time in six decades, giving re-elected Gov. Susana Martinez (R) a GOP chamber for her second term while Democrats kept the Senate. When the session opened in January, the new majority elected Speaker Don Tripp (R) on a party-line vote.
- Martinez, who never once trailed in the polls, beat Attorney General Gary King (D) by about 14 points after her campaign outspent his almost 7-to-1 in the final stretch, and Lt. Gov. John A. Sanchez (R) was re-elected on her ticket over Debra Haaland (D). The win kept Martinez on 2016 vice-presidential shortlists.
- The House majority turned on a handful of close races. Republicans unseated four Democratic incumbents, each by fewer than 500 votes, and won an open Democratic seat:Democrats' lone pickup came in House District 50, where Matthew McQueen (D) beat Vickie Perea (R) by about 800 votes; Martinez had appointed Perea in 2013 after the death of Democratic Rep. Stephen Easley.
- One statewide office changed parties: Republican Aubrey Dunn narrowly unseated Commissioner of Public Lands Ray Powell (D) and held his lead in a recount. Democrats kept the three offices they held: Hector Balderas (D) won attorney general, Tim Keller (D) auditor, and Tim Eichenberg (D) treasurer. Secretary of State Dianna Duran (R) held off Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D) by about 3 points.
- In House District 5, Rep. Sandra Jeff (D), who failed to make the primary ballot for lack of valid signatures, ran as a write-in and lost to Doreen Wonda Johnson (D).
- Voters approved 7 of the 8 measures, including all three bond questions and Amendment 2, which added a student member to university boards of regents. Amendment 1, allowing school elections to be held with other elections, won about 58% but fell short of the three-fourths then required; the state Supreme Court ordered it adopted in 2016.
Legislature
- House (70 seats): 37 D, 33 R before the election, 33 D, 37 R after; control moved from Democrats to Republicans.
- Senate (42 seats): 25 D, 17 R before the election, 25 D, 17 R after; control stayed with Democrats.
Statewide races
Legislative races
Ballot measures
| Measure | Description | Result |
|---|
| Amendment 1 | Provides that school elections shall be held on different dates from partisan elections | Failed (57.68% yes) |
| Amendment 2 | Allocates one position on the Northern New Mexico State School Board of Regents to a student representative | Passed (64.75% yes) |
| Amendment 3 | Permits the legislature to set the date for filing candidacy declarations for judicial retention elections | Passed (62.36% yes) |
| Amendment 4 | Allows certain counties to become "urban counties" and establish county charters | Passed (59.21% yes) |
| Amendment 5 | Requires the State Investment Council to invest and manage the land grant fund in accordance with the Uniform Prudent Investor Act | Passed (52.75% yes) |
| Bond Question A | Authorizes up to $17 million in bonds to make improvements to senior citizen facilities | Passed (64.97% yes) |
| Bond Question B | Authorizes up to $11 million in bonds to make capital expenditures for academic, public school, tribal and public libraries | Passed (63% yes) |
| Bond Question C | Authorizes up to $141 million in bonds to make capital expenditures for higher education, special schools and tribal schools | Passed (59.87% yes) |