The 1968 Elections in New Mexico

Abstract

F THERE WAS any doubt that New Mexico is a two-party state it was I removed by the 1968 elections. The Republican party had its gubernatorial JNand state auditor incumbents returned, won both congressional seats, and added one member on the state's lower chamber (for 26 of the 70 representatives in the new House) .1 The sweep in the congressional races were the first Republican congressional victories since 1928. As Table 1 shows, Republican strength has been especially notable in presidential and gubernatorial contests in the past twenty years. Republican candidates have won six of the last eleven gubernatorial elections and have taken the state's electoral votes in three of the last six presidential elections. Despite this persistent strength, 1968 is the high point for New Mexican Republicanism since it was overwhelmed by the New Deal. TABLE 1 DEMOCRATIC PERCENTAGE OF TWO-PARTY VOTE IN MAJOR RACES, 1948-68 * Seats were not designated by position until 1960; 1948-58 figures are Democratic portion of four candidate totals each year. t Seats were districted. t Average of percentages for each year not raw totals; 1948-58 figures used for both congressional seats.The 1968 campaign had as a background three developments with long-range implications for the state: severe problems of public school finance, the movement led by Reies Lopez Tijerina to assert ancient land-grant claims, and the prospect of a constitutional convention. The last item drew the least public attention. A November referendum requiring the legislature to call a convention was approved 1 No state Senate elections were held. In the six weeks after the general election, there were three Senate vacancies through a death and two changes of address. Of the latter, one was C. Fincher Neal, Democratic majority whip. Mack Easley (Lea County) became whip. Appointments to vacancies did not change the party division of 17 Republicans and 25 Democrats.