2006 United States Senate election in New Mexico
November 7, 2006
 
Nominee Jeff Bingaman Allen McCulloch
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 394,365 163,826
Percentage 70.61% 29.33%
County results
Bingaman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
U.S. senator before election

Jeff Bingaman
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Jeff Bingaman
Democratic

The 2006 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 7, 2006. The primaries were held June 6, 2006. Incumbent Democrat Jeff Bingaman won re-election to a fifth term in a landslide. As of 2023 this was the last time a Democratic candidate for Senate in New Mexico won all 33 of New Mexico's counties.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jeff Bingaman (incumbent) 115,198 100.00
Total votes 115,198 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Pfeffer announced on August 23, 2005, that he would be entering the primary. A former Democrat, he supported George W. Bush in 2004 and became a Republican in 2005. In his campaign announcement, Pfeffer focused mainly on border controls with Mexico. He criticised Bingaman in comparison to his own support for reform of the Social Security system and the Iraq War as well as U.S. relations with China, saying "With all due respect, I do not believe the present occupier of the junior seat from New Mexico is doing all that can and should be done on these fronts," he said of Bingaman. "I believe I can do a better job..." Pfeffer also commented that he would have a hard time raising an amount equivalent to Senator Bingaman, a problem faced by any of the latter's potential challengers.

Results

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Allen McCulloch 29,592 51.04
Republican Joseph J. Carraro 18,312 31.59
Republican David Pfeffer 10,070 17.37
Total votes 57,974 100.00

General election

Candidates

  • Jeff Bingaman (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
  • Allen McCulloch (R), physician

Campaign

Bingaman had a 60% approval rating in one poll.[2] He faced no primary opposition. There had been speculation that Bingaman would give up the chance to run for another term to pursue a lobbyists' job in Washington.

Debates

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Solid D November 6, 2006
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4] Safe D November 6, 2006
Rothenberg Political Report[5] Safe D November 6, 2006
Real Clear Politics[6] Safe D November 6, 2006

Polling

Source Date Jeff
Bingaman (D)		 Allen
McCulloch (R)


Zogby March 22, 2006 53% 29%
Rasmussen June 30, 2006 59% 33%
Albuquerque Journal/Research & Polling August 31, 2006 62% 23%
Rasmussen September 7, 2006 61% 26%
Albuquerque Journal/Research & Polling October 3, 2006 65% 19%

Results

United States Senate election in New Mexico, 2006[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jeff Bingaman (incumbent) 394,365 70.61% +8.90%
Republican Allen McCulloch 163,826 29.33% -8.92%
Write-in 376 0.06%
Majority 230,539 41.27% +17.83%
Turnout 558,567
Democratic hold Swing

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Results summary" (PDF). www.sos.state.nm.us. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  2. ↑ SurveyUSA News Poll #5984
  3. ↑ "2006 Senate Race Ratings for November 6, 2006" (PDF). The Cook Political Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Election Eve 2006: THE FINAL PREDICTIONS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2006 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Election 2006". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved May 7, 2021.

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