2022 New Mexico gubernatorial election

The 2022 New Mexico gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of New Mexico. The election coincided with various other federal and state elections. Primary elections were held on June 7.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham won a second term by a margin of 6.38%. She was first elected in 2018 with 57.2% of the vote. Her opponent was Republican Mark Ronchetti, who was also his party's nominee in New Mexico's 2020 U.S. Senate election.

Despite losing, Ronchetti managed to carry a congressional district that elected Democrat Gabe Vasquez in the concurrent U.S. House elections. This was the first gubernatorial election in New Mexico since 1986 in which the winner was from the same party as the incumbent president, and the first time since 1978 that it was a Democrat.

Democratic primary Governor Candidates Nominated Michelle Lujan Grisham, incumbent governor (2019–present)

Endorsements

Results

Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominated Howie Morales, incumbent lieutenant governor (2019–present)

Results

Republican primary Governor Candidates Nominated Mark Ronchetti, former KRQE meteorologist and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2020

Eliminated in primary Jay Block, Sandoval County commissioner and retired U.S. Air Force officer Rebecca Dow, state representative (2017–2023) Ethel Maharg, Right to Life of New Mexico executive director Gregory Zanetti, retired U.S. Army National Guard officer and former chair of the Bernalillo County Republican Party

Withdrew Karen Bedonie, businesswoman (running as a Libertarian) Louie Sanchez, shooting range owner (ran for U.S. House) Tim Walsh, former advisor to Governor Gary Johnson and former Lake City, Minnesota city councilman (ran as a Libertarian)

Declined Yvette Herrell, U.S. representative from (2021–2023) (ran for re-election)

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated JayBlock RebeccaDow MarkRonchetti GregZanetti OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsApril 29 – May 19, 2022May 23, 202210.0%13.0%44.5%9.5%23.0%Ronchetti +31.5 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JayBlock RebeccaDow MarkRonchetti GregZanetti Other UndecidedResearch & Polling Inc.Research & Polling Inc.May 15–19, 2022560 (LV)± 4.1%8%17%45%9%1%21%SurveyUSASurveyUSA April 29 – May 7, 2022505 (LV)± 6.4%12%9%44%10%2%23%Public Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R) January 31 – February 1, 2022400 (LV)± 4.9%2%9%60%7%3%19%

Debate + 2022 New Mexico gubernatorial election Republican primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Jay Block Rebecca Dow Ethel Maharg Mark Ronchetti Gregory Zanetti1 Albuquerque JournalKKOB-FMKOAT-TV Doug Fernandez YouTube

Results

Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominated Ant Thornton, aerospace engineer

Eliminated in primary Peggy Muller-Aragon, member of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education

Eliminated at convention Patrick H. Lyons, former New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands and former member of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Anastacia Morper, real estate agent Isabella Solis, Doña Ana County commissioner

Results

Libertarian primary Governor Candidates Nominated Karen Bedonie, businesswoman and candidate for New Mexico's 3rd congressional district in 2020

Eliminated in primary Ginger G. Grider, nominee for Secretary of State of New Mexico in 2018

Withdrew Tim Walsh, former advisor to Governor Gary Johnson and former Lake City, Minnesota city councilman Endorsements

Results

Lieutenant governor Travis Sanchez won the Libertarian primary unopposed, but withdrew to become the Libertarian nominee for New Mexico State Auditor. Sanchez was replaced by Efren Gallardo Jr.

Candidates Declared Efren Gallardo Jr.

Withdrew Travis Sanchez, activist

Results

General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report June 8, 2022Inside Elections November 3, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball January 26, 2022PoliticoApril 1, 2022 RCPJune 20, 2022Fox News August 22, 2022538July 31, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022

Endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated Michelle MarkRonchetti (R) KarenBedonie (L) OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 6–21, 2022October 21, 202247.0%43.5%–9.5%Lujan Grisham +3.5FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightJune 14 – October 24, 2022October 24, 202248.7%41.1%4.9%5.3%Lujan Grisham +7.6Average47.9%42.3%–7.4%Lujan Grisham +5.6

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Michelle MarkRonchetti (R) KarenBedonie (L) Other UndecidedEmerson CollegeEmerson CollegeOctober 25–28, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%49%46%2%<1%3%50%48%2%<1%–Research & Polling Inc.Research & Polling Inc.October 20–27, 20221,254 (LV)± 2.8%50%42%3%–5%SurveyUSASurveyUSAOctober 21–26, 2022650 (LV)± 4.9%46%39%5%–9%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)October 19–21, 20221,077 (LV)± 2.9%46%47%4%–4%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)October 6–7, 2022806 (V)± 3.5%48%40%7%–6%SurveyUSASurveyUSAOctober 1–6, 2022570 (LV)± 5.8%53%37%3%–7%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)September 27–29, 2022400 (LV)± 4.9%46%44%5%–5%SurveyUSASurveyUSASeptember 8–12, 2022558 (LV)± 5.7%48%36%5%–11%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeSeptember 8–11, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%48%43%–3%5%Research & Polling Inc.Research & Polling Inc.August 19–25, 2022518 (LV)± 4.3%47%40%5%–8%GQR Research (D)GQR Research (D)June 11–17, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%48%44%5%–3%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)June 13–14, 2022642 (V)± 3.9%45%42%9%–5%Public Opinion Strategies (R)June 11–14, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%45%46%––9%SurveyUSASurveyUSAApril 29 – May 7, 20221,389 (LV)± 3.6%47%43%––11%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)January 3–4, 2022531 (LV)± 4.2%43%42%––16%

Michelle Lujan Grisham vs. Jay Block Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Michelle JayBlock (R) UndecidedSurveyUSAApril 29 – May 7, 20221,389 (LV)± 3.6%47%37%16% Michelle Lujan Grisham vs. Rebecca Dow Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Michelle RebeccaDow (R) UndecidedSurveyUSAApril 29 – May 7, 20221,389 (LV)± 3.6%48%36%16%Cygnal (R)January 3–4, 2022531 (LV)± 4.2%43%36%20% Michelle Lujan Grisham vs. Ethel Maharg Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Michelle EthelMaharg (R) UndecidedSurveyUSAApril 29 – May 7, 20221,389 (LV)± 3.6%48%32%19% Michelle Lujan Grisham vs. Gregory Zanetti Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Michelle GregoryZanetti (R) UndecidedSurveyUSAApril 29 – May 7, 20221,389 (LV)± 3.6%48%36%16%Cygnal (R)January 3–4, 2022531 (LV)± 4.2%43%38%21% Michelle Lujan Grisham vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Michelle GenericRepublican UndecidedCygnal (R)Cygnal (R)July 6–8, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%45%47%7%

Debates +2022 New Mexico gubernatorial general election debatesDateHostModeratorLink Democratic Republican LibertarianKey: Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  Invitee WithdrawnMichelle Lujan GrishamMark Ronchetti Karen Bedonie1Oct. 13, 2022KOAT-TVDoug FernandezYoutube

Results

By county County Michelle Lujan GrishamDemocratic Mark RonchettiRepublican Karen BedonieLibertarian Margin Total # % # % # % # % Bernalillo 141,177 57.55% 99,639 40.62% 4,484 1.83% 41,538 16.93% 245,300 Catron 471 23.29% 1,493 73.84% 58 2.87% -1,022 -50.54% 2,022 Chaves 4,063 24.89% 11,884 72.79% 379 2.32% -7,821 -47.91% 16,326 Cibola 3,418 49.75% 3,230 47.02% 222 3.23% 188 2.74% 6,870 Colfax 2,053 41.82% 2,719 55.39% 137 2.79% -666 -13.57% 4,909 Curry 2,516 24.55% 7,092 69.20% 640 6.25% -4,576 -44.65% 10,248 De Baca 167 22.03% 566 74.67% 25 3.30% -399 -52.64% 758 Doña Ana 32,147 55.69% 23,213 40.21% 2,364 4.10% 8,934 15.48% 57,724 Eddy 3,376 20.20% 12,996 77.75% 344 2.06% -9,620 -57.55% 16,716 Grant 6,185 52.88% 5,217 44.60% 294 2.51% 968 8.28% 11,696 Guadalupe 915 52.56% 784 45.03% 42 2.41% 131 7.52% 1,741 Harding 129 30.79% 280 66.83% 10 2.39% -151 -36.04% 419 Hidalgo 645 39.72% 914 56.28% 65 4.00% -269 -16.56% 1,624 Lea 2,104 15.02% 11,542 82.40% 362 2.58% -9,438 -67.38% 14,008 Lincoln 2,334 27.94% 5,778 69.16% 243 2.91% -3,444 -41.22% 8,355 Los Alamos 6,192 61.02% 3,751 36.96% 205 2.02% 2,441 24.05% 10,148 Luna 2,445 41.52% 3,250 55.19% 194 3.29% -805 -13.67% 5,889 McKinley 12,910 66.27% 5,799 29.77% 772 3.96% 7,111 36.50% 19,481 Mora 1,584 64.47% 832 33.86% 41 1.67% 752 30.61% 2,457 Otero 5,852 33.17% 11,182 63.38% 608 3.45% -5,330 -30.21% 17,642 Quay 803 26.53% 2,104 69.51% 120 3.96% -1,301 -42.98% 3,027 Rio Arriba 8,037 62.01% 4,729 36.49% 195 1.50% 3,308 25.52% 12,961 Roosevelt 1,087 23.32% 3,177 68.15% 398 8.54% -2,090 -44.83% 4,662 San Juan 12,849 32.08% 25,574 63.85% 1,631 4.07% -12,725 -31.77% 40,054 San Miguel 6,531 68.98% 2,785 29.41% 152 1.61% 3,746 39.56% 9,468 Sandoval 30,789 50.28% 29,337 47.91% 1,109 1.81% 1,452 2.37% 61,235 Santa Fe 52,447 75.35% 16,287 23.40% 868 1.25% 36,160 51.95% 69,602 Sierra 1,780 36.19% 3,001 61.01% 138 2.81% -1,221 -24.82% 4,919 Socorro 2,950 48.05% 2,988 48.66% 202 3.29% -38 -0.62% 6,140 Taos 10,188 76.33% 2,964 22.21% 196 1.47% 7,224 54.12% 13,348 Torrance 1,588 28.64% 3,712 66.96% 244 4.40% -2,124 -38.31% 5,544 Union 328 21.87% 1,101 73.40% 71 4.73% -773 -51.53% 1,500 Valencia 10,108 39.70% 14,781 58.05% 574 2.25% -4,673 -18.35% 25,463Totals370,16851.97%324,70145.59%17,3872.44%45,4676.38%712,256

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Socorro (largest city: Socorro)

By congressional district Lujan Grisham won two of three congressional districts, with Ronchetti winning the remaining one, which elected a Democrat. District Lujan Grisham Ronchetti Representative 53% 45%Melanie Stansbury48%49%Yvette Herrell (117th Congress)Gabe Vasquez (118th Congress) 54% 44%Teresa Leger Fernandez

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign websites Karen Bedonie (L) for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) for Governor Mark Ronchetti (R) for Governor