Bill Richardson was elected New Mexico governor in 2002, defeating state Rep. John Sanchez in a three-way race. He won with 55 percent of the vote.

Richardson waged the most expensive campaign for governor in the state's history, spending $7.3 million on his primary and general election. Richardson's campaign raised and spent more than the Republican and Democratic nominees combined in the 1998 gubernatorial race.

In November 2006, Richardson was re-elected with 68 percent of the vote against former New Mexico Republican Party Chairman John Dendahl. It was the most sweeping victory for a governor in state history. Richardson carried all but one of New Mexico's 33 counties, losing in conservative-leaning Catron County by just six votes.

Richardson was elected to the U.S. House in 1982, when a third congressional district was created in New Mexico. It was the most heavily Democratic district in the state and Richardson never received less than 60 percent of the vote in any re-election campaign.

In January 2007, Richardson filed papers to set up a presidential exploratory committee, but his campaign never broke into the top tier with Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. He finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, then dropped out of the race in January 2008. Richardson endorsed then Sen. Barack Obama, calling him a "once-in-a-lifetime leader."

Obama later nominated Richardson for commerce secretary, but the governor withdrew his nomination as a federal investigation into a possible "pay-to-play" scheme in New Mexico was made public. The governor has insisted the federal probe would clear his name.

(Last updated by Barry Massey on March 26, 2009.)

Jeff Bingaman was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1982 with 54 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Harrison Schmitt, a former Apollo astronaut. In the Democratic primary, Bingaman defeated former Gov. Jerry Apodaca. Bingaman was re-elected to a second term in 1988, defeating Republican state Sen. Bill Valentine with 63 percent of the vote.

Bingaman won election to a third term in 1994 with 54 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Colin McMillan. He won a fourth term in 2000 with 62 of the vote, defeating former Republican Congressman Bill Redmond. He was elected to a fifth term in 2006 with nearly 71 percent of the vote, defeating Dr. Allen McCulloch of Farmington.

Bingaman was elected attorney general of New Mexico in 1978, serving from 1979 to 1982.

(Last updated by Joan Lowy on March 27, 2009.)

Tom Udall defeated Republican Steve Pearce in 2008 with 61 percent of the vote, to win the Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican Pete Domenici. Domenici retired at the end of his term because of a degenerative brain disease.

In 1982, Udall finished last in a four-way race for the Democratic nomination in the newly formed 3rd congressional District. Bill Richardson won that primary and went on to represent the district for 14 years.

In 1988, Udall lost by 5,800 votes to Republican Steve Schiff in the 1st Congressional District. The Albuquerque-area congressional seat came open because Republican Manuel Lujan Jr. retired. Udall won a 10-way primary race for the Democratic nomination.

Udall was elected as New Mexico's attorney general in 1990 and re-elected in 1994.

Udall was elected to the U.S. House in 1998, unseating Republican Rep. Bill Redmond. Udall received 53 percent to Redmond's 43 percent. In 2000, he won re-election against GOP state legislator Lisa Lutz with 67 percent of the vote.

He had no GOP opponent in the 2002 general election after a GOP write-in failed to get enough votes in the primary to win a spot on the November ballot.

In 2004, he defeated Republican Greg Tucker, winning 69 percent of the vote. Then ncreased his victory margin in 2006 with a win over Republican Ronald Dolin. Udall received more than 74 percent.

(Last updated by Sue Major Holmes on March 24, 2009.)