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 County resultsMechem: 50-60% 60–70% Hanna: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1920 New Mexico gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1920.
Incumbent Republican Governor Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo was defeated for renomination. Republican candidate Merritt C. Mechem defeated Democratic nominee Richard H. Hanna with 51.26% of the vote. Otero County and Union County both backed a Republican gubernatorial candidate for the first time, but would not do so again until 1950 and 1938, respectively. This was also the last gubernatorial election until 1950 in which Grant County voted for a Republican.
General election
Candidates
- Richard H. Hanna, Democratic, former Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court
- Merritt C. Mechem, Republican, district judge
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Merritt C. Mechem | 54,426 | 51.26% | +0.77% | |
| Democratic | Richard H. Hanna | 50,755 | 47.80% | +0.12% | |
| Farmer–Labor | W. E. McGrath | 1,004 | 0.95% | ||
| Majority | 3,671 | 3.46% | |||
| Total votes | 106,185 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | +0.65% | |||
Results by county
| County | Merritt C. Mechem Republican |
Richard H. Hanna Democratic |
W. E. McGrath Farmer-Labor |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Bernalillo | 4,154 | 41.98% | 5,687 | 57.47% | 55 | 0.56% | -1,533 | -15.49% | 9,896 |
| Chaves | 1,587 | 40.98% | 2,256 | 58.25% | 30 | 0.77% | -669 | -17.27% | 3,873 |
| Colfax | 3,164 | 51.51% | 2,932 | 47.73% | 47 | 0.77% | 232 | 3.78% | 6,143 |
| Curry | 786 | 24.55% | 2,270 | 70.92% | 145 | 4.53% | -1,484 | -46.36% | 3,201 |
| De Baca | 380 | 34.70% | 710 | 64.84% | 5 | 0.46% | -330 | -30.14% | 1,095 |
| Doña Ana | 2,531 | 63.77% | 1,426 | 35.93% | 12 | 0.30% | 1,105 | 27.84% | 3,969 |
| Eddy | 875 | 33.31% | 1,723 | 65.59% | 29 | 1.10% | -848 | -32.28% | 2,627 |
| Grant | 2,243 | 53.76% | 1,902 | 45.59% | 27 | 0.65% | 341 | 8.17% | 4,172 |
| Guadalupe | 1,531 | 53.98% | 1,284 | 45.28% | 21 | 0.74% | 247 | 8.71% | 2,836 |
| Hidalgo | 428 | 42.67% | 571 | 56.93% | 4 | 0.40% | -143 | -14.26% | 1,003 |
| Lea | 161 | 15.88% | 830 | 81.85% | 23 | 2.27% | -669 | -65.98% | 1,014 |
| Lincoln | 1,476 | 55.34% | 1,168 | 43.79% | 23 | 0.86% | 308 | 11.55% | 2,667 |
| Luna | 852 | 45.20% | 1,007 | 53.42% | 26 | 1.38% | -155 | -8.22% | 1,885 |
| McKinley | 1,411 | 54.90% | 1,136 | 44.20% | 23 | 0.89% | 275 | 10.70% | 2,570 |
| Mora | 2,262 | 48.37% | 2,388 | 51.07% | 26 | 0.56% | -126 | -2.69% | 4,676 |
| Otero | 1,207 | 50.40% | 1,134 | 47.35% | 54 | 2.25% | 73 | 3.05% | 2,395 |
| Quay | 1,172 | 37.73% | 1,865 | 60.05% | 69 | 2.22% | -693 | -22.31% | 3,106 |
| Rio Arriba | 3,910 | 64.85% | 2,119 | 35.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,791 | 29.71% | 6,029 |
| Roosevelt | 471 | 25.99% | 1,280 | 70.64% | 61 | 3.37% | -809 | -44.65% | 1,812 |
| San Juan | 899 | 48.65% | 931 | 50.38% | 18 | 0.97% | -32 | -1.73% | 1,848 |
| San Miguel | 5,105 | 57.34% | 3,798 | 42.66% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,307 | 14.68% | 8,903 |
| Sandoval | 1,129 | 53.20% | 993 | 46.80% | 0 | 0.00% | 136 | 6.41% | 2,122 |
| Santa Fe | 3,365 | 58.88% | 2,332 | 40.80% | 18 | 0.31% | 1,033 | 18.08% | 5,715 |
| Sierra | 878 | 57.54% | 635 | 41.61% | 13 | 0.85% | 243 | 15.92% | 1,526 |
| Socorro | 3,216 | 63.66% | 1,807 | 35.77% | 29 | 0.57% | 1,409 | 27.89% | 5,052 |
| Taos | 2,457 | 63.10% | 1,431 | 36.75% | 6 | 0.15% | 1,026 | 26.35% | 3,894 |
| Torrance | 1,605 | 54.74% | 1,290 | 44.00% | 37 | 1.26% | 315 | 10.74% | 2,932 |
| Union | 2,799 | 51.81% | 2,428 | 44.95% | 175 | 3.24% | 371 | 6.87% | 5,402 |
| Valencia | 2,372 | 62.06% | 1,422 | 37.21% | 28 | 0.73% | 950 | 24.86% | 3,822 |
| Total | 54,426 | 51.26% | 50,755 | 47.80% | 1,004 | 0.95% | 3,671 | 3.46% | 106,185 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
References
- "National Life Insurance Company of the Southwest". Albuquerque morning journal. Albuquerque, N.M. March 7, 1920. p. 7. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- "Republicans select Mechem". The Clovis news. Clovis, N.M. September 9, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- "NM Governor, 1920". Our Campaigns. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
- Glashan 1979, pp. 218–219.
- Guide to U.S. Elections 2005, p. 1515.
- New Mexico Blue Book 1921, p. 189.
- New Mexico State Records Center & Archives, Tabular Statement of the aggregate vote cast in the State of New Mexico, for Presidential Electors, Representative to Congress and State Officers at a general election held on Tuesday, next after the first Monday in November, A.D. 1920
Bibliography
- Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
- Guide to U.S. Elections. Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818.
- Issued by Manuel Martinez, Secretary of State (1921). The New Mexico Blue Book or State Official Register 1921. Santa Fe, N.M.: Santa Fe New Mexican Publishing Corporation.
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