New Mexico's at-large congressional district explained

State:New Mexico
District Number:AL
Obsolete:yes
Created:1912
Eliminated:1969
Years:1912–1969
Population Year:1960

From statehood in 1912 to 1969, New Mexico did not use congressional districts for its representatives to the United States House of Representatives. Instead, it elected its representatives statewide at-large.

List of members representing the district

YearsCong
ress
Seat ASeat B
MemberPartyElectoral historyMemberPartyElectoral history
nowrap January 8, 1912 –
March 3, 1913

Harvey Fergusson
DemocraticElected in 1911 for the term starting upon 1912 statehood.
Re-elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.
align=left
George Curry
RepublicanElected in 1911 for the term starting upon 1912 statehood.
Retired.
nowrap March 3, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
No second seat until 1943
nowrap March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1917
align=left
Benigno C. Hernández
RepublicanElected in 1914.
Lost re-election.
nowrap March 4, 1917 –
March 3, 1919
align=left
William B. Walton
DemocraticElected in 1916.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
nowrap March 4, 1919 –
March 3, 1921
align=left
Benigno C. Hernández
RepublicanElected in 1918.
Retired.
nowrap March 4, 1921 –
January 13, 1923
align=left
Néstor Montoya
RepublicanElected in 1920.
Retired but died before term expired.
nowrap January 13, 1923 –
March 3, 1923
Vacant
nowrap March 4, 1923 –
March 3, 1929
align=left
John Morrow
DemocraticElected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.
nowrap March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1931
align=left Albert G. Simms
RepublicanElected in 1928.
Lost re-election.
nowrap March 4, 1931 –
January 3, 1935
align=left
Dennis Chavez
DemocraticElected in 1930.
Re-elected in 1932.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
nowrap January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1941
align=left
John J. Dempsey
DemocraticElected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
nowrap January 3, 1941 –
January 3, 1943

Clinton P. Anderson
DemocraticElected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
nowrap January 3, 1943 –
June 30, 1945

Antonio M. Fernández
DemocraticRe-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Died.
nowrap June 30, 1945 –
January 3, 1947
Vacant
nowrap January 3, 1947 –
January 3, 1949
align=left
Georgia Lee Lusk
DemocraticElected in 1946.
Lost renomination.
nowrap January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1951
align=left
John E. Miles
DemocraticElected in 1948.
Retired.
nowrap January 3, 1951 –
November 7, 1956

John J. Dempsey
DemocraticRe-elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Died.
nowrap November 7, 1956 –
April 9, 1957
Vacant
nowrap April 9, 1957 –
March 11, 1958

Joseph Montoya
DemocraticElected to finish Fernández's term.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
Resigned when elected U.S. Senator.
nowrap March 12, 1958 –
January 3, 1959
Vacant
nowrap January 3, 1959 –
November 3, 1964

Thomas G. Morris
DemocraticElected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Redistricted to the and lost re-election.
nowrap November 3, 1964 –
January 3, 1965
Vacant
nowrap January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1969
align=left
E. S. Johnny Walker
DemocraticElected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Redistricted to the and lost re-election.

Elections

Republicans held onto the seat in 1920 by nominating Néstor Montoya, the county clerk of Bernalillo County and former Speaker of the New Mexico Territorial Legislature. Montoya won with a combination of Hispanic voters and coat-tails from the election of President Warren Harding. Republicans did not renominate him in 1922, choosing instead suffragist Adelina Otero-Warren, the niece of former territorial Governor, Miguel Otero, and the first woman to run for statewide office in New Mexico. Otero-Warren was defeated by Democrat John Morrow, an educator and lawyer from northeast New Mexico. Morrow would win consecutive re-elections in 1924 and 1926, but lost re-election in 1928 to Albert G. Simms, an Albuquerque businessman, on the coat-tails of the election of President Herbert Hoover.

References