Stansbury wins special election in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District

Ballotpedia News: Melanie Ann Stansbury wins special election in New Mexico's 1st Congressional District

By: Ballotpedia staff

Melanie Ann Stansbury (D) defeated Mark Moores (R) and four other candidates in the special election in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District on June 1. According to The New York Times, Stansbury received 60.3% of the vote to Moores’ 35.7%. 

The election took place after the U.S. Senate confirmed Debra Haaland (D) as Secretary of the Interior on March 15. In the 2020 general election, Haaland defeated Michelle Garcia Holmes (R), 58% to 42%. 

Stansbury has served in the New Mexico House of Representatives since 2019. She received endorsements from Haaland, President Joe Biden (D), EMILYs List, and the Sierra Club.

Stansbury led in fundraising and spending. According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, as of May 12 she had $1,348,453 in receipts and $874,861 in disbursements. Moores had raised $595,423 and spent $469,868.

The outcome of this race affected partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 117th Congress. Leading up to the election, Democrats had a 219 to 211 majority over Republicans. When Stansbury is sworn in, Democrats will expand their majority to 220-211.

As of June 1, seven special elections have been called during the 117th Congress. This year, voters have decided two such elections—in Louisiana’s Second and Fifth Districts—with the special election in Texas’ Sixth District to be decided in a July 27 runoff. From the 113th Congress to the 116th Congress, 50 special elections were held.