1996Final results
1996 election for New Mexico's 1st District
U.S. House · New Mexico
Steven Schiff (R) won with 56.6% of the vote, defeating John Wertheim (D) by 19.5 points.
Steven SchiffRepublican · winner
56.6%109,290
John WertheimDemocrat
37.1%71,635
John A. UhrichGreen
4.0%7,694
Betty Turrietta-KouryIndependent
2.3%4,459
193,078 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
John WertheimSteven Schiff
$287K
Raised by the campaign
$599.4K
$286K
Spent by the campaign
$603.3K
$976
Cash on hand
$3.6K
Other candidates' campaigns: Betty Turrietta-Koury $12.4K · John A. Uhrich $10.7K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Steven Schiff (R)John Wertheim (D)
Also on the ballot: John A. Uhrich (Green), 4.0%; Betty Turrietta-Koury (Independent), 2.3%