1998 New Mexico gubernatorial election
November 3, 1998
 
Nominee Gary Johnson Martin Chávez
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Walter Bradley Diane Denish
Popular vote 271,948 226,755
Percentage 54.5% 45.5%
County results
Johnson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Chávez:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Governor before election

Gary Johnson
Republican

 Elected Governor

Gary Johnson
Republican

The 1998 New Mexico gubernatorial election was a contest to elect the next governor of New Mexico. The winner of the election would serve a term from January 1, 1999 until January 1, 2003. Incumbent Republican (now Libertarian) Governor Gary Johnson was re-elected to a second term. As of 2023, this is the last time a non-Hispanic was elected governor of New Mexico.

In his campaign, Johnson promised to continue the policies of his first term: improving schools; cutting state spending, taxes, and bureaucracy; and frequent use of his veto and line-item veto power.[1] Fielding a strong Hispanic candidate in a 40% Hispanic state, the Democrats were expected to oust Johnson,[2] but Johnson won by a margin of 55% to 45%.[3] This made him the first governor of New Mexico to serve two successive four-year terms after term limits were expanded to two terms in 1991.[4] Johnson made the promotion of a school voucher system a "hallmark issue" of his second term.[5] This election is the first time since 1968 that an incumbent Republican Governor of New Mexico was re-elected or won re-election.

Democratic Party

Candidates

Primary results

June 2, 1998 Democratic primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Martin J. Chávez 82,147 48.1
Democratic Gary K. King 51,847 30.4
Democratic Jerry Apodaca 16,303 9.6
Democratic Robert E. Vigil 10,483 6.1
Democratic Reese P. Fullerton 5,800 3.4
Democratic Ben Chavez 4,127 2.4
Democratic Frances Salas (write-in) 29 nil
Total votes 170,736 100

Republican Party

Candidates

Primary results

June 2, 1998 Republican primary results[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gary Johnson (incumbent) 64,669 100
Total votes 64,669 100

Campaign

In his campaign, Johnson promised to continue the policies of his first term: improving schools; cutting state spending, taxes, and bureaucracy; and frequent use of his veto and line-item veto power.[1] Fielding a strong Hispanic candidate in a 40% Hispanic state, the Democrats were expected to oust Johnson,[2] but Johnson won by a margin of 55% to 45%.[3] This made him the first governor of New Mexico to serve two successive four-year terms after term limits were expanded to two terms in 1991.[4] Johnson made the promotion of a school voucher system a "hallmark issue" of his second term.[5]

Election results

New Mexico gubernatorial election, 1998[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Gary Johnson (incumbent) 271,948 54.5% +4.7%
Democratic Martin Chávez 226,755 45.5% +5.6%
Majority 45,193 9.06% -0.8%
Turnout 498,703
Republican hold Swing

References

  1. 1 2 Ayres, B. Drummond Jr. (October 23, 1998). "Democrats Renew Push in New Mexico". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "America's boldest governor". The Economist. April 15, 1999. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "CNN election results 1998". Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Lynch, Michael W. (January 2001). "America's Most Dangerous Politician – Republican Governor of New Mexico Gary E. Johnson". Reason. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Janofsky, Michael (January 31, 2000). "Parents Lead Way as States Debate School Vouchers". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ↑ http://www.sos.state.nm.us/Main/Elections/1998/98General/rsult001.HTM

See also

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