New Mexico Primary Facts and Figures

Presidential Primary Winners

Democrats

• 1988 Michael Dukakis
• 1992 Bill Clinton
• 1996 Bill Clinton
• 2000 Al Gore
• 2004 John Kerry (caucus)

Republicans

• 1988 George H. W. Bush
• 1992 George H. W. Bush
• 1996 Bob Dole
• 2000 George W. Bush
• 2004 George W. Bush

2008 Voter Registration Data

1,077,318 registered voters as of 9/20/2007

Party Affiliation

• Democrats: 49%
• Republicans: 33%
• Decline-to-State: 15%
• Other: 3%

General Election Winners

• 1988 George H. W. Bush
• 1992 Bill Clinton
• 1996 Bill Clinton
• 2000 Al Gore
• 2004 George W. Bush

Exit Poll Demographics

2004 Presidential Election

Gender

• Male: 45%
• Female: 55%

Race

• White: 57%
• African-American: 2%
• Latino: 32%
• Asian: 0%
• Other: 9%

Age

• 18-29: 17%
• 30-44: 27%
• 45-59: 32%
• 60+: 25%
• 18-64: 83%
• 65+: 17%

Religion

• Protestant: 49%
• Catholic: 32%
• Jewish: 1%
• Other: 8%
• None: 10%

3 Things You Didn't Know About New Mexico Primaries

1. New Mexico is a closed primary state. Independents and voters who don't register with a party cannot participate.

2. The New Mexico Democratic nominating contest is officially called the Presidential Preference Caucus, but the rules are similar to voting in a regular election. The polls are open for several hours, and voters cast private ballots, unlike a caucus, where it is public. Republicans will hold their primary in June.

3. New Mexico has been a bellwether state in the presidential elections, voting for every winning candidate all but twice (1976 and 2000), since 1912.

Sources:
New Mexico Bureau of Elections, Office of the Secretary of State
CNN.com Election Results