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New Mexico's 3rd congressional district

From 2013 to 2023

From 2023

Interactive map of district boundaries. In the 2020 redistricting cycle, the district takes in some of Eastern New Mexico from the 2nd district, with some of Albuquerque's northern suburbs instead drawn into the 1st district.
Representative
  Teresa Leger Fernandez
DSanta Fe
Distribution
  • 64.70% urban
  • 35.30% rural
Population (2019) 699,985
Median income $53,357
Ethnicity
Cook PVI D+8

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.

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.

Recent election results from statewide races

Source

Year Office Result
2000 President Gore 52 – 43%
2004 President Kerry 54 – 45%
2008 President Obama 61 – 38%
2012 President Obama 57 – 39%
2016 President Clinton 52 – 37%
2018 Senator Heinrich 57 – 27%
2018 Governor Lujan Grisham 61 – 39%
2020 President Biden 57 – 40%

List of members representing the district

Member
(District home)
Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District boundaries
District created January 3, 1983
Congressman Bill Richardson.jpg
Bill Richardson
(Santa Fe)
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.
1983–1993
Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Socorro, Taos, and Valencia
1993–2003
Bernalillo, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union
Vacant February 13, 1997 –
May 13, 1997
105th
Bill Redmond Congressional Photo.jpg
Bill Redmond
(Santa Fe)
Republican May 13, 1997 –
January 3, 1999
105th Elected to finish Richardson's term.
Lost re-election.
Tom Udall Official House Picture.jpg
Tom Udall
(Santa Fe)
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.
2003–2013
NM03 109.gif
Bernalillo, Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union
BenLujan2016.jpg
Ben Ray Luján
(Nambé)
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–present
New Mexico US Congressional District 3 (since 2013).tif
Bernalillo, Colfax, Curry, Harding, Los Alamos, McKinley, Mora, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, Sandoval, San Juan, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos, and Union
Teresa Leger Fernandez 117th U.S Congress.jpg
Teresa Leger Fernandez
(Santa Fe)
Democratic January 3, 2021 –
Present
Presentth Elected in 2020.

Election results

1982

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson 84,669 64.49
Republican Marjorie Bell Chambers 46,466 35.39
Write-in 158 0.12
Total votes 131,293 100.00
Democratic win (new seat)

1984

1984 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (Incumbent) 100,470 60.81
Republican Louis H. Gallegos 62,351 37.74
Libertarian Shirley Machocky Jones 2,388 1.45
Total votes 165,209 100.00
Democratic hold

1986

1986 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (Incumbent) 95,760 71.30
Republican David F. Cargo 38,552 28.70
Total votes 134,312 100.00
Democratic hold

1988

1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (Incumbent) 124,938 73.11
Republican Cecilia M. Salazar 45,954 26.89
Total votes 170,892 100.00
Democratic hold

1990

1990 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (Incumbent) 104,225 74.46
Republican Phil T. Archuletta 35,751 25.54
Total votes 139,976 100.00
Democratic hold

1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (Incumbent) 122,850 67.42
Republican F. Gregg Bemis Jr. 54,569 29.95
Libertarian Ed Nagel 4,798 2.63
Total votes 182,217 100.00
Democratic hold

1994

1994 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (Incumbent) 99,900 63.59
Republican F. Gregg Bemis Jr. 53,515 34.06
Libertarian Ed Nagel 3,697 2.35
Total votes 157,112 100.00
Democratic hold

1996

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson (Incumbent) 124,594 67.25
Republican Bill Redmond 56,580 30.54
Libertarian Ed Nagel 4,097 2.21
Total votes 185,271 100.00
Democratic hold

1997 (Special)

1997 New Mexico's 3rd congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Redmond 43,559 42.75
Democratic Eric P. Serna 40,542 39.79
Green Carol Miller 17,101 16.78
Libertarian Ed Nagel 393 0.39
Reform Daniel Pearlman 304 0.30
Total votes 101,899 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

1998

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Udall 91,248 53.16
Republican Bill Redmond (Incumbent) 74,266 43.27
Green Carol Miller 6,103 3.56
Write-in 32 0.01
Total votes 171,649 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

2000

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Udall (Incumbent) 135,040 67.18
Republican Lisa L. Lutz 65,979 32.82
Total votes 201,019 100.00
Democratic hold

2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Udall (Incumbent) 122,921 100.00
Total votes 122,921 100.00
Democratic hold

2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Udall (Incumbent) 175,269 68.68
Republican Gregory M. Tucker 79,935 31.32
Total votes 255,204 100.00
Democratic hold

2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Udall (Incumbent) 144,880 74.64
Republican Ronald M. Dolin 49,219 25.36
Total votes 194,099 100.00
Democratic hold

2008

2008 Democratic Primary Congressional Election, District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Ray Luján 26,667 41.58
Democratic Don Wiviott 16,314 25.44
Democratic Benny J. Shendo Jr. 10,113 15.77
Democratic Harry Montoya 7,205 11.23
Democratic Jon Adams 1,993 3.11
Democratic Rudy Martin 1,838 2.87
2008 Republican Primary Congressional Election, District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Daniel K. East 14,767 53.89
Republican Marco Gonzales 12,634 46.11
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Ray Luján 161,292 56.74
Republican Daniel K. East 86,618 30.47
Independent Carol Miller 36,348 12.79
Total votes 284,258 100.00
Democratic hold

2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Ray Luján (Incumbent) 120,057 56.99
Republican Thomas E. Mullins 90,621 43.01
Total votes 210,678 100.00
Democratic hold

2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Ray Luján (Incumbent) 167,103 63.12
Republican Jefferson L. Byrd 97,616 36.88
Total votes 264,719 100.00
Democratic hold

2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Ray Luján (Incumbent) 113,249 61.52
Republican Jefferson Byrd 70,775 38.45
Republican Thomas Hook (Write-In) 52 0.03
Total votes 184,076 100.00
Democratic hold

2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Ray Luján (Incumbent) 170,612 62.42
Republican Michael H. Romero 102,730 37.58
Total votes 273,342 100.00
Democratic hold

2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Ray Luján (Incumbent) 155,201 63.04
Republican Jerald S. McFall 76,427 31.02
Libertarian Christopher Manning 13,265 5.4
Total votes 244,893 100.00
Democratic hold

2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 3
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Teresa Leger Fernandez 186,282 58.07
Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson 131,166 41.03
Total votes 317,448 100.00
Democratic hold

Historical district boundaries

NM03 109
2003 - 2013

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: 3.º distrito congresional de Nuevo México para niños

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