2006 New Mexico Gubernatorial Election

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 decided to retire in order to prepare his run for President, leaving an open race for the governorship. The field was quite open, with nearly 15 state Representatives and state Senators running for the open position. Ultimately, Saul Goodman, an attorney from Albuquerque, won the Democratic Primary in an upset with a plurality of the vote. Likewise, local business owner Gustavo Fring won the primary for the position of Lieutenant Governor. Goodman faced Republican John Dendahl in the general election and won in an upset, as polling consistently showed Goodman trailing behind Dendahl, who was seem as more "professional" of a candidate.

During the campaign, the national Democratic Party sought to disavow the Goodman/Fring ticket due to Goodman's eccentric behavior, legal issues involving his brother, and Fring's alleged ties to the Mexican Cartel. For a time, the New Mexico Democratic Party considered holding a convention to change the nominees, or perhaps endorse an Independent/Write In ticket. What many Republicans saw as an easy win due to Goodman and Fring's troubles was dragged into a tight race as the national political climate of 2006 saw the approval of President George W. Bush and Congress decline. Ultimately, Goodman defeated Dendahl by about 22,000 votes, with his margin of victory coming from the Albuquerque area. Goodman also overperformed most Democrats among elder women, perhaps in part due to his name recognition from his time in elder law.