2009 Albuquerque mayoral election

The 2009 Albuquerque mayoral election took place on October 6, 2009. Incumbent Mayor Martin Chávez ran for re-election to a third consecutive term, and fourth term overall. The city charter barred Chávez from seeking a third consecutive term, but he challenged the term limits, successfully arguing that the limit was unconstitutional under the state constitution.

In his bid for re-election, Chávez faced two challengers: Republican State Representative Richard Berry and Democrat Richard Romero, a former State Senator. Berry and Romero both attacked Chávez over his challenge to the term limits, with Romero comparing him to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was also seeking a third term that year. Berry, a general contractor, campaigned on bringing his perspective as a businessman to city government, while Romero argued for greater transparency, and Chávez emphasized his accomplishments.

Ultimately, though a majority of voters indicated that they believed the city was moving in the right direction, Berry defeated Chávez. Berry won 44 percent of the vote to Chávez's 35 percent and Romero's 21 percent, avoiding the need for a runoff election, and becoming the first Republican to be elected Mayor since 1981.