New Mexico's at-large congressional district

From statehood in 1912 to 1969, New Mexico did not use congressional districts for its representatives to the United States House of Representatives. Instead, it elected its representatives statewide at-large.

New Mexico's at-large congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1912
Eliminated1969
Years active1912–1969

List of members representing the district

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Years Cong
ress
Seat A Seat B
Member Party Electoral history Member Party Electoral history
January 8, 1912 –
March 3, 1913
62nd  
Harvey Fergusson
(Albuquerque)
Democratic Elected in 1911 for the term starting upon 1912 statehood.
Re-elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
 
George Curry
(Tularosa)
Republican Elected in 1911 for the term starting upon 1912 statehood.
Retired.
March 3, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd No second seat until 1943
March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1917
64th  
Benigno C. Hernández
(Tierra Amarilla)
Republican Elected in 1914.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1919
65th  
William B. Walton
(Silver City)
Democratic Elected in 1916.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1921
66th  
Benigno C. Hernández
(Tierra Amarilla)
Republican Elected in 1918.
Retired.
March 4, 1921 –
January 13, 1923
67th  
Néstor Montoya
(Albuquerque)
Republican Elected in 1920.
Retired but died before term expired.
January 13, 1923 –
March 3, 1923
Vacant
March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1929
68th
69th
70th
 
John Morrow
(Raton)
Democratic Elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1931
71st Albert G. Simms
(Albuquerque)
Republican Elected in 1928.
Lost re-election.
March 4, 1931 –
January 3, 1935
72nd
73rd
 
Dennis Chavez
(Albuquerque)
Democratic Elected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1941
74th
75th
76th
 
John J. Dempsey
(Santa Fe)
Democratic Elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
January 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1943
77th  
Clinton P. Anderson
(Albuquerque)
Democratic Elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
January 3, 1943 –
June 30, 1945
78th
79th
 
Antonio M. Fernández
(Santa Fe)
Democratic Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Died.
June 30, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
79th Vacant
January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1949
80th  
Georgia Lee Lusk
(Santa Fe)
Democratic Elected in 1946.
Lost renomination.
January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1951
81st  
John E. Miles
(Santa Fe)
Democratic Elected in 1948.
Retired.
January 3, 1951 –
November 7, 1956
82nd
83rd
84th
 
John J. Dempsey
(Santa Fe)
Democratic Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Died.
November 7, 1956 –
April 9, 1957
84th
85th
Vacant
April 9, 1957 –
March 11, 1958
85th  
Joseph Montoya
(Santa Fe)
Democratic Elected to finish Fernández's term.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Resigned when elected U.S. Senator.
March 12, 1958 –
January 3, 1959
Vacant
January 3, 1959 –
November 3, 1964
86th
87th
88th
 
Thomas G. Morris
(Tucumcari)
Democratic Elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Redistricted to the 1st district and lost re-election.
November 3, 1964 –
January 3, 1965
88th Vacant
January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1969
89th
90th
 
E. S. Johnny Walker
(Santa Fe)
Democratic Elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Redistricted to the 2nd district and lost re-election.

Elections

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Republicans held onto the seat in 1920 by nominating Néstor Montoya, the county clerk of Bernalillo County and former Speaker of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature. Montoya won with a combination of Hispanic voters and coat-tails from the election of President Warren Harding. Republicans did not renominate him in 1922, choosing instead suffragist Adelina Otero-Warren, the niece of former territorial Governor, Miguel Otero, and the first woman to run for statewide office in New Mexico. Otero-Warren was defeated by Democrat John Morrow, an educator and lawyer from northeast New Mexico. Morrow would win consecutive re-elections in 1924 and 1926, but lost re-election in 1928 to Albert G. Simms, an Albuquerque businessman, on the coat-tails of the election of President Herbert Hoover.

1920 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Néstor Montoya 54,672 51.88
Democratic Antonio Lucero 49,426 46.9
Farmer–Labor A.J. McDonald 1,290 1.22
Majority 5,246 4.98
Turnout 105,388
Republican gain from Democratic
1922 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Morrow 59,254 54.42 +7.25%
Republican Adelina Otero-Warren 49,635 45.58 −6.3%
Majority 9,619 8.83 +3.85%
Turnout 108,889
Democratic gain from Republican Swing
1924 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Morrow 57,802 51.76 −2.66%
Republican J. Felipe Hubbell 53,860 48.24 +2.66%
Majority 3,942 3.53 −5.30%
Turnout 111,662
Democratic hold Swing
1926 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John Morrow 55,433 51.42 −0.34%
Republican Juan A. A. Sedillo 52,075 48.31 +0.07%
Socialist E. E. Denniston 287 0.27 +0.27%
Majority 3,358 3.12 −0.41%
Turnout 107,795
Democratic hold Swing
1928 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Albert G. Simms 61,208 52.2 +3.89%
Democratic John Morrow 56,048 47.8 −3.62%
Majority 5,160 4.4 +1.28%
Turnout 117,256
Republican gain from Democratic Swing
1930 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dennis Chavez 65,194 57.1 +9.3%
Republican Albert G. Simms 48,699 42.65 −9.55%
Socialist John Whitley 299 0.26 +0.26%
Majority 16,495 14.45 +10.05%
Turnout 114,192
Democratic gain from Republican Swing
1932 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dennis Chavez 94,764 63.36 +6.26%
Republican Jose E. Armijo 52,905 35.37 −7.28%
Socialist N. S. Sweeney 1,349 0.9 +0.64%
Liberty L. E. Lake 418 0.28 +0.28%
Communist E. T. Howell 132 0.09 +0.09%
Majority 41,859 27.99 +13.54%
Turnout 149,568
Democratic hold Swing
1934 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John J. Dempsey 76,833 51.82 −11.54%
Republican Maurecio F. Miera 70,659 47.66 +12.29%
Socialist Frank Edwards 643 0.43 −0.47%
Communist H. Turnbaugh 133 0.09 +0.00%
Majority 6,174 4.16 −23.83%
Turnout 148,268
Democratic hold Swing
1936 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John J. Dempsey 105,937 62.92 +11.10%
Republican M. Ralph Brown 62,375 37.05 −10.61%
Farmer–Labor Albert Ortiz 61 0.03 +0.03%
Majority 43,562 25.87 +21.71%
Turnout 168,373
Democratic hold Swing
1938 United States House of Representatives election in New Mexico
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic John J. Dempsey 90,608 58.4 −4.52%
Republican Peace C. Rodney 64,281 41.43 +4.38%
Independent E. W. Fawkes 268 0.17 +0.17%
Majority 26,327 16.97 −8.9%
Turnout 155,157
Democratic hold Swing

References

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  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present