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The 2006 U.S. Senate election in New Mexico took place on November 7, 2006 (the primary had been held on June 6, 2006).

Contents 1 Democrats 2 Republicans 2.1 Lost in primary 2.2 Did not run 3 Polling 4 Election results 5 External links

Jeff Bingaman, the incumbent, was the only candidate who filed for the Democratic primary.

There had been speculation that Bingaman would give up the chance to run for another term to pursue a lobbyists' job in Washington. Instead, Bingaman, who has been in the Senate since 1983, announced he was running for a fifth term.

In a SurveyUSA Senate Ratings poll released on August 18, 2005, Bingaman was ranked 33rd, with an approval rating of 60% of New Mexicans' versus 28% disapproval [1].

• Allen McCulloch - A urologist and former chemical engineer, won the primary on June 6, 2006. He has no previous political experience. [2]. McCulloch won with 52% of the vote; Carraro had 31% and Pfeffer had 17%.

• Joe Carraro - a state senator and a businessman [3]

• Francesca Lobato - an attorney and frequent candidate [4]

• David Pfeffer - a Santa Fe City councilman and Vietnam War veteran, Pfeffer announced on August 23, 2005, that he would be entering the primary. A former Democrat, he supported George W. Bush in 2004 and became a Republican in 2005.

In his campaign announcement, Pfeffer focused mainly on border controls with Mexico. He criticised Bingaman in comparison to his own support for reform of the Social Security system and the Iraq War as well as U.S. relations with China, saying "With all due respect, I do not believe the present occupier of the junior seat from New Mexico is doing all that can and should be done on these fronts," he said of Bingaman. "I believe I can do a better job..." Pfeffer also commented that he would have a hard time raising an amount equivalent to Senator Bingaman, a problem faced by any of the latter's potential challengers.

• Tom Benavides - Like Pfeffer, Benavides, a former State Senator and Auditor from Albuquerque, also switched parties from Democratic to Republican. In 1990, he ran as a Democrat against Senator Pete Domenici.

• John Sanchez - The 2002 Republican gubernatorial nominee, Sanchez lost that year 55%-39% to Bill Richardson.

• Heather Wilson - There had been speculation that Representative Wilson might run against Bingaman. Wilson decided to run for reelection instead; her own Congressional seat is a target of New Mexico Democrats.

Source	Date	Bingaman (D)	McCulloch (R)
Albuquerque Journal/Research & Polling	October 3, 2006	65%	19%
WSJ/Zogby Interactive	September 28, 2006	57.4%	32%
WSJ/Zogby Interactive	September 11, 2006	58.6%	32.7%
WSJ/Zogby Interactive	August 28, 2006	58.6%	31.2%
WSJ/Zogby Interactive	July 24, 2006	53.9%	31.5%
Rasmussen	June 30, 2006	59%	33%
WSJ/Zogby Interactive	June 21, 2006	55.1%	36.3%

2006 United States Senate election, New Mexico
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jeff Bingaman (incumbent)	394,079	70.6	+8.9
	Republican	Allen McCulloch	163,732	29.3	-9.0
	Write-in	Orlin G. Cole	376	0.1	+0.1
Majority			230,347	41.3	+17.9
Turnout			558,187
	Democratic hold		Swing

• Bingaman's campaign website
• McCulloch's campaign website
• Pfeffer's campaign website
• Pfeffer announces candidacy
• New Mexico Democratic party
• New Mexico Republican party

v • d • e United States 2006 midterm elections
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Preceded by 2002 Pete Domenici

New Mexico U.S. Senate elections 2006

Succeeded by 2008