2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico
The 2012 United States Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a sixth term. Democratic U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich won the open seat.
Background
Incumbent Jeff Bingaman won re-election to a fifth term with 70.61% of the vote against Allen McCulloch in the 2006 U.S. senatorial election in New Mexico.Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Hector Balderas, state auditor
- Martin Heinrich, U.S. Representative
Withdrew
- Martin Chávez, former Albuquerque mayor and 1998 Democratic gubernatorial nominee
- Andres Valdez, anti-police brutality social justice activist
Declined
- Jeff Bingaman, incumbent U.S. senator
- Diane Denish, former New Mexico lieutenant governor and 2010 Democratic gubernatorial nominee
- Ben Ray Luján, U.S. representative
Polling
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Greg Sowards, businessman
- Heather Wilson, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008
Withdrew
- Bill English, businessman
- John Sanchez, Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico and nominee for governor in 2002
Declined
- Janice Arnold-Jones, former state representative
- Gary Johnson, former governor
- Steve Pearce, U.S. Representative, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2000, and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008
Polling
| Poll source | Bill English | Gary Johnson | John Sanchez | Greg Sowards | Heather Wilson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 300 | ± 5.7% | 1% | 31% | 15% | 3% | 42% | — | 9% |
Endorsements
Results
General election
Candidates
- Jon Barrie, alternative medicine practitioner and Air Force veteran
- Martin Heinrich, U.S. Representative
- Heather Wilson, former U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2008
Debates
- , October 17, 2012 - C-SPAN
- , October 25, 2012 - C-SPAN
Fundraising
Top contributors
| Martin Heinrich | Contribution | Heather Wilson | Contribution |
| League of Conservation Voters | $108,634 | Elliott Management Corporation | $29,413 |
| JStreetPAC | $67,860 | Mewbourne Oil Co | $25,000 |
| University of New Mexico | $24,221 | Kelly PAC | $15,000 |
| Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP | $23,000 | Blue Cross & Blue Shield | $14,050 |
| Council for a Livable World | $20,044 | Devon Energy | $13,250 |
| National Rural Letter Carriers' Association | $19,000 | Murray Energy | $12,800 |
| Comcast Corporation | $11,250 | Yates Petroleum | $12,600 |
| Presbyterian Healthcare Services | $11,150 | Livingston Group | $12,249 |
| Intel Corp | $10,500 | Publix Super Markets | $11,000 |
| American Optometric Association | $10,250 | Westport Construction | $10,500 |
Top industries
| Martin Heinrich | Contribution | Heather Wilson | Contribution |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $322,120 | Retired | $355,880 |
| Retired | $270,598 | Oil & Gas | $217,500 |
| Lobbyists | $156,480 | Leadership PACs | $206,225 |
| Environmental organizations | $145,365 | Financial Institutions | $163,888 |
| Leadership PACs | $100,000 | Lobbyists | $113,549 |
| Health Professionals | $95,729 | Lawyers/Law Firms | $106,852 |
| Pro-Israel | $83,860 | Real Estate | $95,990 |
| Public Sector Unions | $67,000 | Misc Finance | $72,407 |
| Democratic/Liberal | $64,300 | Business Services | $72,078 |
| Casinos/Gambling | $58,550 | Mining | $69,200 |
Predictions
Polling
with Jeff Bingaman| Poll source | Jeff Bingaman | Gary Johnson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 51% | 40% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Jeff Bingaman | Steve Pearce | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 57% | 34% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Jeff Bingaman | Heather Wilson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 56% | 37% | — | 9% |
with Hector Balderas
| Poll source | Hector Balderas | Gary Johnson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 38% | 44% | — | 19% |
| Poll source | Hector Balderas | Greg Sowards | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | June 23–26, 2011 | 732 | ± 3.6% | 42% | 28% | — | 30% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 44% | 30% | — | 27% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 19–22, 2012 | 526 | ± 4.3% | 42% | 30% | — | 28% |
| Poll source | Hector Balderas | Heather Wilson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | June 23–26, 2011 | 732 | ± 3.6% | 45% | 39% | — | 16% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 43% | 43% | — | 14% |
| Rasmussen Reports | February 14, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 44% | 44% | 3% | 9% |
| Rasmussen Reports | April 3, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.5% | 42% | 43% | 5% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 19–22, 2012 | 526 | ± 4.3% | 44% | 43% | — | 12% |
with Ben Ray Luján
| Poll source | Ben Ray Luján | Gary Johnson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 40% | 45% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Ben Ray Luján | Steve Pearce | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 49% | 37% | — | 14% |
| Poll source | Ben Ray Luján | Heather Wilson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 48% | 40% | — | 12% |
with Martin Heinrich
| Poll source | Martin Heinrich | Gary Johnson | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 43% | 44% | — | 14% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 43% | 43% | — | 14% |
| Poll source | Martin Heinrich | Steve Pearce | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 4–6, 2011 | 545 | ± 4.2% | 53% | 38% | — | 10% |
| Poll source | Martin Heinrich | Greg Sowards | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | June 23–26, 2011 | 732 | ± 3.6% | 46% | 34% | — | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | December 10–12, 2011 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 49% | 31% | — | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 19–22, 2012 | 526 | ± 4.3% | 48% | 34% | — | 18% |