ELECTORAL VOTES 5

2012 ELECTION Swing State New! 2012 New Mexico Polls >>

ABOUT
NEW MEXICO

2010 Census Reapportionment: As has been the case since 1984, New Mexico will remain at 5 electoral votes for the 2012, 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.



New Mexico joined the Union in January 1912. It has participated in 25 presidential elections through 2008, with the results split almost down the middle 13 for Democrats, 12 for Republicans. Democrats gained the historical edge when Barack Obama won by 57% to 42% over John McCain in 2008. That large margin is striking, particularly given that Senator McCain is from neighboring Arizona, and may indicate that the state is now leaning Democratic as opposed to being a swing state. This may be driven by Hispanics growing support of the Democratic party in recent years. Whichever party they’ve chosen, New Mexico voters have been remarkably good at siding with the winning candidate, only getting it wrong in 1976 (Gerald Ford) and 2000 (George W. Bush).