2017 Albuquerque mayoral election explained

Election Name:2017 Albuquerque mayoral election
Country:Albuquerque
Type:Mayor
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2013 Albuquerque mayoral election
Previous Year:2013
Next Election:2021 Albuquerque mayoral election
Next Year:2021
Election Date:October 3 and November 14, 2017
Image1:File:Tim Keller.jpeg
Candidate1:Tim Keller
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:60,219
Percentage1:62.2%
Candidate2:Dan Lewis
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:36,594
Percentage2:37.8%
Mayor
Before Election:Richard J. Berry
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2017 Albuquerque mayoral election was a nonpartisan election, held on October 3 and November 14, 2017, to choose the next mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Richard J. Berry, the incumbent mayor, did not seek reelection. This was the first mayoral election in Albuquerque without an incumbent candidate in twenty years. All candidates ran on the same ballot. No candidate reached 50% of the vote in the initial round held on October 3, and so a runoff election was held November 14 between the top two finishers.[1]

The race was non-partisan (i.e., party affiliations do not appear on the ballot).[2] However, "although the election is nonpartisan, a candidate’s political affiliation obviously can play a role in the campaign."[1] In order to appear on the ballot, a candidate must collect 3,000 signatures from Albuquerque registered voters and submit them to the city clerk's office.[3]

The maximum allowed campaign contribution that may be given to a candidate is $5,193 per person or company, which is 5% of the mayor's salary.[4]

Alongside the mayoral election, five seats of the city council were up for re-election. Incumbent councillors Ken Sanchez (District 1), Klarissa Peña (District 3), Diane G. Gibson (District 7) and Don Harris (District 9) were re-elected. In the 5th district, Cynthia Borrego, who ran as a Democrat, won the runoff against Robert Aragon, who ran as a Republican for state auditor in 2014. The 5th district seat was vacated by Dan Lewis, who ran for mayor.

Primary election

Candidates

Declared

Did not qualify

Withdrew

Declined

Results

Runoff election

Candidates

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
class=small Sample
size
Margin of
error
Tim
Keller
Dan
Lewis
Undecided
Carroll StrategiesOctober 4, 2017-± 4.1% align=center49%36%14%

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ABQ likely to see unusual race for mayor. Dan. McKay . Albuquerque Journal. December 5, 2016. December 9, 2016.
  2. News: McKay . Dan . May 4, 2016 . Albuquerque's mayoral race has its first candidate . Albuquerque Journal.
  3. Andy Lyman, Long list of potential ABQ mayoral candidates as signature deadline approaches, NM Political Report (April 26, 2017).
  4. Martin Salazar, Money already pouring into mayor's race, Albuquerque Journal (April 18, 2017).
  5. Web site: Terrell . Steve . State auditor enters race for Albuquerque mayor . Santa Fe New Mexican . 13 January 2017.
  6. Dan McKay, State auditor announces bid for ABQ mayor, Albuquerque Journal (January 11, 201).
  7. Olivier Uyttebrouck, Wheeler-Deichsel enters race for Albuquerque mayor, Albuquerque Journal (February 17, 2017).
  8. Martin Salazar, 9 of 16 mayoral candidates qualify for ballot, Albuquerque Journal (April 28, 2017).
  9. Marie C. Baca, Archuleta drops out of Albuquerque mayor’s race, Albuquerque Journal (May 26, 2017).
  10. Marie C. Baca, Dinelli decides to skip mayor’s race, Albuquerque Journal (February 1, 2017).