J. D. Hannah would die in office in July 1957. The Governor appointed Ben Chavez to fill the vacancy and Chavez served the remainder of the term.
The source for the canvass is New Mexico Election Returns 1911-1969, compiled by the New Mexico Secretary of State in 1970 and available at the state library in Santa Fe.
Source for Popular Vote data: New Mexico Secretary of State, "For State Auditor," Canvass of Returns of General Election Held November 6, 1956 (Santa Fe, 1956)