1982 New Mexico gubernatorial election


The 1982 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982 to elect the governor of New Mexico. Due to term limits, incumbent Democrat Bruce King was ineligible to seek a second consecutive term as governor. Democrat Toney Anaya defeated Republican state senator John B. Irick by about five points. Anaya was the first Democrat to carry Harding County in a gubernatorial election since Thomas J. Mabry in 1946.
As of 2024, this is the last election in which a governor of New Mexico was succeeded by a member of the same party.

Primary election

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary was won by former attorney general Toney Anaya.

Republican primary

The Republican primary was won by state senator John B. Irick.

General election

Results by county

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican