2006 New Mexico gubernatorial election

2006 New Mexico gubernatorial election

November 7, 2006
 
Nominee Bill Richardson John Dendahl
Party Democratic Republican
Running mate Diane Denish Sue Wilson Beffort
Popular vote 384,806 174,364
Percentage 68.82% 31.18%

County results
Richardson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Dendahl:      50–60%

Governor before election

Bill Richardson
Democratic

Elected Governor

Bill Richardson
Democratic

The 2006 New Mexico gubernatorial election was a race for the governor of New Mexico held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic governor Bill Richardson was running for re-election. He faced Republican John Dendahl in the general election and won by a landslide. As of 2025, this was the last time a male candidate was elected Governor of New Mexico.

The scale of Richardson's lopsided victory was nearly unprecedented in the traditionally competitive state. Richardson's 68.82% share of the vote is the highest achieved by any gubernatorial candidate in the state by a wide margin, beating the previous record of 60.21% set in 1964. Richardson came within six votes of sweeping every county the state, a feat that has never been achieved in any gubernatorial (or presidential) election in the state.