58,798 58,352 48.7% 48.3% Start date November 7, 1911 | 58,352 3,590 48.3% 3.0% | |
New Mexico's first election to the United States House of Representatives was held on November 7, 1911 for two Representatives elected at-large for the 62nd Congress
Background
New Mexico joined the Union as the 47th state on January 6, 1912. It had been a territory since 1850, originally including Arizona and a portion of Nevada until 1863. New Mexico Territory and Arizona Territory had long sought statehood, and during the debates over admitting Oklahoma, and early version of the Oklahoma Enabling Act included a clause providing for New Mexico Territory and Arizona Territory to be admitted as a single state, but this was later removed. New Mexico was finally admitted as a state during the 62nd Congress, with 2 Representatives, which was subsequently reduced to 1 in the Apportionment Act of 1911, passed prior to New Mexico statehood.