The Albuquerque mayoral election of 2009 occurred on October 6, 2009. In July 2009, incumbent Mayor Martin Chavez announced that he would seek a fourth term. Former State Senator Richard Romero (D) also ran. Richard J. Berry won the election with 36,466 votes and 43.82%. Chavez captured 29,140 votes or 35.02% of the vote and Romero received 17,458 votes for 20.98% of the vote. Write-in candidates won 149 votes or .18% of the total. Although Berry received less than 50 percent of the vote, Albuquerque election law requires a runoff only if no candidate receives at least 40 percent of the vote.