New Mexico's forty-third state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Christine Chandler.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 29,651 civilians reside within New Mexico's forty-third state house district. New Mexico state representatives represent an average of 29,417 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 25,986 residents.

About the office

Members of the New Mexico House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. New Mexico legislators assume office January 1st.

Qualifications

Article 4, Section 3 of the New Mexico Constitution states: "Senators shall not be less than twenty-five years of age and representatives not less than twenty-one years of age at the time of their election. If any senator or representative permanently removes his residence from or maintains no residence in the district from which he was elected, then he shall be deemed to have resigned and his successor shall be selected as provided in Section 4 of this article. No person shall be eligible to serve in the legislature who, at the time of qualifying, holds any office of trust or profit with the state, county or national governments, except notaries public and officers of the militia who receive no salary."

Salaries

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the New Mexico State Legislature, the governor fills the vacancy with a listed provided by the board of county commissioners representing the vacant seat. The governor is not required by law to appoint a member of the same political party of the last incumbent. There are no deadlines set by Article IV, Section 4 of the New Mexico Constitution which governs legislative vacancies. The appointed replacement serves for the remainder of the unfilled term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of New Mexico House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline is March 10, 2020.

2018

2016

Elections for the New Mexico House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2016.

Incumbent Stephanie Garcia Richard defeated Sharon Stover in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 43 general election.

New Mexico House of Representatives District 43, General Election, 2016

Incumbent Stephanie Garcia Richard ran unopposed in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 43 Democratic primary.
Sharon Stover ran unopposed in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 43 Republican primary.

This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

2014

Elections for the New Mexico House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 4, 2014. Incumbent Stephanie Richard was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Geoff Rodgers defeated Vincent Chiravalle in the Republican primary. Richard defeated Rodgers in the general election.

The New Mexico House of Representatives was a battleground chamber that identified as having the opportunity to switch partisan control in 2014. The New Mexico House had a difference in partisan balance between Democrats and Republican of four seats, which amounted to 5.7 percent of the chamber. District 43 in the HouseAlbuquerque Journal and New Mexico Telegram as a battleground district that would be key in determining control of the New Mexico House of Representatives. In a traditionally Republican district, District 43 was represented by first-term Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard. She defeated Los Alamos County Council Chair Geoff Rodgers (R) in the general election. In 2012, Richard won the general election by a margin of victory of only 2 percent.

New Mexico House of Representatives, District 43 General Election, 2014

New Mexico House of Representatives, District 43 Republican Primary, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of New Mexico House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 5, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 20, 2012. Stephanie Richard (D) defeated incumbent James W. Hall (R) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the June 5 primary elections.

New Mexico House of Representatives, District 43, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for New Mexico House of Representatives District 43 raised a total of $1,022,276. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $63,892 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, New Mexico House of Representatives District 43