New Mexico's 3rd congressional district serves the northern half of New Mexico, including the state's Capital, Santa Fe. The district has a significant Native American presence, encompassing most of the New Mexico portion of the Navajo Nation, situated in the northwest corner of the state, and most of the Puebloan peoples reservations. The current Representative is Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez.
Ever since Mary Peltola of Alaska's at-large congressional district lost re-election in 2024, this district has been the largest United States congressional district by land area to be represented by a Democrat.
History The district was created as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census. Ben Ray Luján, who was elected to the seat in 2008, ran successfully for the United States Senate in 2020, leaving the seat open. Democratic nominee Teresa Leger Fernandez defeated Republican Alexis Johnson in the 2020 general election.
Historical district boundaries
Recent election results from statewide races Year Office Results2008 PresidentObama 56–42% SenateUdall 64–36%2010 GovernorMartinez 50.4–49.6% Secretary of StateDuran 56–44% Attorney GeneralKing 57–43% AuditorBalderas 58–42% TreasurerLewis 57–43%2012 PresidentObama 57–43% SenateHeinrich 52–44%2014 SenateUdall 60–40% GovernorMartinez 53–47% Secretary of StateDuran 50.3–49.7% Attorney GeneralBalderas 61–39% AuditorKeller 56–44% TreasurerEichenberg 55–45%2016 PresidentClinton 50–39% Secretary of State (Spec.)Toulouse Oliver 57–43%2018 SenateHeinrich 56–30% GovernorLujan Grisham 59–41% Attorney GeneralBalderas 62–33% AuditorColón 59–41%2020 PresidentBiden 54–44% SenateLuján 53–45%2022 GovernorLujan Grisham 54–44% Secretary of StateToulouse Oliver 55–42% Attorney GeneralTorrez 57–43% TreasurerL. Montoya 55–45%2024 PresidentHarris 52–46% SenateHeinrich 55–45%
Composition For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST35/CD118_NM03.pdf
Colfax County (7)
All 7 communities
Chaves County (5)
Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, Midway, Roswell (part; also 1st)
Curry County (5)
All 5 communities
Eddy County (3)
Artesia, Atoka (part; also 2nd), Morningside
Harding County (2)
Mosquero (shared with San Miguel County), Roy
Lea County (4)
Hobbs (part; also 2nd), Lovington, North Hobbs, Tatum
Los Alamos County (2)
Los Alamos, White Rock
McKinley County (41)
Becenti, Black Hat, Black Rock, Bluewater, Borrego Pass, Brimhall Nizhoni, Catalpa Canyon, Church Rock, Continental Divide, Crestview, Crownpoint, Crystal (shared with San Juan County), Fort Wingate, Gallup, Gamerco, Haystack, Homer C Jones, Iyanbito, Jamestown, Manuelito, McGaffey, Nakaibito, Navajo, Ojo Encino, Pinedale, Pinehaven, Prewitt, Pueblo Pintado, Purty Rock, Red Rock Ranch, Rock Springs, Sagar, Sundance, Thoreau, Tohatchi, Tse Bonito, Twin Lakes, Vanderwagen, White Cliffs, Williams Acres, Yah-ta-hey
Mora County (3)
All 3 communities
Quay County (5)
All 5 communities
Rio Arriba County (41)
All 41 communities
Roosevelt County (5)
All 5 communities
Sandoval County (21)
Algodones, Cañon, Cochiti, Cochiti Lake, Cuba, Jemez Pueblo, Jemez Springs, La Cueva, La Jara, Peña Blanca, Ponderosa, Regina, Rio Rancho (part; also 1st), Rio Rancho Estates (part; also 1st), San Felipe Pueblo, San Luis, Santa Ana Pueblo, Santo Domingo Pueblo, San Ysidro, Torreon, Zia Pueblo
San Juan County (35)
All 35 communities
San Miguel County (15)
All 15 communities
Santa Fe County (51)
Agua Fria, Arroyo Hondo, Cañada de los Alimos, Chimayo (shared with Rio Arriba County), Cedar Grove (part; also 1st), Chupadero, Conejo, Cuartelez, Cundiyo, Cuyamungue, Cuyamungue Grant, Eldorado at Santa Fe, El Rancho, El Valle de Arroyo Seco, Encantado, Española, Galisteo, Glorieta, Golden, Hyde Park, Jacona, Jaconita, La Bajada, La Cienega, La Cueva, Lamy, La Puebla, Las Campanas, La Tierra, Los Cerrillos, Madrid, Nambé, Peak Place, Pojoaque, Rio Chiquito, Rio en Medio, San Ildefonso Pueblo, San Pedro (part; also 1st), Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Foothills, Seton Village, Sombrillo, Stanley, Sunlit Hills, Tano Road, Tesuque, Tesuque Pueblo, Tres Arroyos, Valencia, Valle Vista
Taos County (17)
All 15 communities
Union County (5)
All 5 communities
List of members representing the district Member Party Years Congress Electoral history District boundaries District established January 3, 1983 Bill Richardson Democratic January 3, 1983 –February 13, 1997 Elected in 1982.Re-elected in 1984.Re-elected in 1986.Re-elected in 1988.Re-elected in 1990.Re-elected in 1992.Re-elected in 1994.Re-elected in 1996.Resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. 1983–1993Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, and Valencia 1993–2003Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, Cibola, Sandoval, and Santa Fe Vacant February 13, 1997 –May 13, 1997 Bill Redmond Republican May 13, 1997 –January 3, 1999 Elected to finish Richardson's term.Lost re-election. Tom Udall Democratic January 3, 1999 –January 3, 2009 Elected in 1998.Re-elected in 2000.Re-elected in 2002.Re-elected in 2004.Re-elected in 2006.Retired to run for U.S. senator. 2003–2013Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, McKinley, Sandoval, and Santa Fe Ben Ray Luján Democratic January 3, 2009 –January 3, 2021 Elected in 2008.Re-elected in 2010.Re-elected in 2012.Re-elected in 2014.Re-elected in 2016.Re-elected in 2018.Retired to run for U.S. senator. 2013–2023Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Bernalillo, McKinley, Roosevelt, Sandoval, and Santa Fe Teresa Leger Fernández Democratic January 3, 2021 –present Elected in 2020.Re-elected in 2022.Re-elected in 2024. 2023–presentColfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Taos, and Union; parts of Chaves, Eddy, Lea, McKinley, Sandoval, and Santa Fe
Election results
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1997 (Special)
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
See also
New Mexico's congressional districts List of United States congressional districts
References Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present