How libertarian is New Mexico?

[Libertarian in Name Only]

It was Gary Johnson's best state in 2016, but also his home state. If he wasn't the nominee, but it was someone of the same caliber, how well do you think that person would have done?

[Meatball Ron]

Probably no better than their national margin. NM isn't just Johnson's home state; he was their Governor for eight years, very recently, and performed very well. That definitely makes an impact.

[MarkD]

The Libertarian Party doesn't have any nominees who run for New Mexico Governor, U.S. Senator, or U.S. House, so I'd say the state has extremely few Libertarians.

[NOVA Green]

It depends upon how one defines Libertarian...

Social Issues--- Reproductive Rights/ Choice, LGBTQ Equality, Recreational Marijuana

NM is definitely well to the Right on the Libertarian spectrum compares to States like WA/OR/CA.

Foreign Policy- Generally somewhat isolationist/Non-Interventionist, but generally not a huge center of Anti-Vietnam/ Iraq 2.0 activism. Sure in the largest population centers of the State there have been significant Demonstrations against US Wars overseas, but many of the rural areas are more like W. '04 Country.

Economic Policy- The State of NM is a major employer in many rural counties within the State.... Generally voters support elements of "wealth redistribution" such as a Higher Minimum Wage, but the absence of labor movement activity in the State over the past 80+ years, never really reversed the power of the former mining bosses and cattle ranchers that essentially owned the Government of New Mexico since well before the State was even founded.

So, ultimately historical NM Libertarian leans more towards the old Barry Goldwater style of politics.

Now, Gary Johnson is an interesting character and a fairly popular Governor, so isn't really representative of the Libertarian Party nor movement in NM.

On the subject of the Latino/Chicano vote, it is important to remember the Old Spanish influence that is disproportionate within the State, so as Mark Twain once said "There are lies, Damn lies, and then there are statistics...."

The Old Spanish community of NM actually (Amazingly enough) consider themselves the original European settlers of the region.

I believe we have run some numbers elsewhere on US PRES GE swings in NM, at it appears that there were significant swings towards Trump in the "Old Spanish" regions of the State.

Still, much of the Johnson '16 vote in NM were Millennial voters of all ethnic backgrounds that couldn't bring themselves to vote for either Trump nor Clinton.

Considering that New Mexico doesn't allow Write-In votes, I would not be surprised at all if 25% of Johnson voters were Bernie '16 Primary supporters.

[Libertarian in Name Only]

http://edition.cnn.com/election/results/exit-polls/new-mexico/president
Another interesting point is that he did best among people with lower incomes according to this poll.

[Tekken_Guy]

It's not. The libertarian vote was just a "Favorite Son" vote for Johnson.