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New Mexico, State House, District 54

New Mexico House of Representatives District 54
Current incumbentJames Townsend Republican Party
Population29,374
Race49.5% White, 0.8% Native American, 1.3% Black, 0.3% Asian, 46.8% Hispanic, 1.3% Other Races
Ethnicity53.2% Non-Hispanic, 46.8% Hispanic
Voting age74.8% age 18 and over

New Mexico's fifty-fourth state house district is represented by Republican Representative James Townsend.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 29,374 civilians reside within New Mexico's fifty-fourth 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

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$0/year$161/day

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

General election
General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54

Incumbent James Townsend (R) won election in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

James Townsend (R)
100
6,773

Total votes: 6,773
Democratic primary election

No Democratic candidates ran in the primary.

Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54

Incumbent James Townsend advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 on June 5, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

James Townsend (R)
100
1,506

Total votes: 1,506

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 James Townsend defeated Freddie Joe Nichols, III in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 general election.

New Mexico House of Representatives District 54, General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png James Townsend Incumbent 75.59% 7,098
Independent Freddie Joe Nichols, III 24.41% 2,292
Total Votes 9,390
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State

Incumbent James Townsend ran unopposed in the New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 Republican primary.

New Mexico House of Representatives District 54, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png James Townsend Incumbent (unopposed)


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. James Townsend defeated Pam Richardson in the Republican primary. Townsend was unchallenged in the general election.

New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54 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. Incumbent William Gray (R) was unopposed in both the general election and Republican primary.

New Mexico House of Representatives, District 54, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngWilliam Gray Incumbent 100% 7,465
Total Votes 7,465

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for New Mexico House of Representatives District 54 raised a total of $407,080. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $33,923 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, New Mexico House of Representatives District 54

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $22,219 2 $11,110
2014 $84,735 2 $42,368
2012 $19,350 1 $19,350
2010 $29,095 1 $29,095
2008 $27,300 1 $27,300
2006 $208,081 2 $104,041
2004 $4,900 1 $4,900
2002 $5,350 1 $5,350
2000 $6,050 1 $6,050
Total $407,080 12 $33,923