Las Cruces, New Mexico: Gabe Vasquez Wins Third Term, Beats Greg Cunningham

LAS CRUCES (Orbit Post) Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez won a third term on Tuesday night in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, holding a seat both parties spent heavily to control and that has changed hands three times in eight years.

The Associated Press called the race for Vasquez shortly after 10 p.m., with an estimated 80 percent of votes counted, Source New Mexico reported. Fox News and NBC News also reported Vasquez as the winner over Republican Greg Cunningham, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. In the later Associated Press count, Vasquez had 122,098 votes to 86,221 for Cunningham, with 606 of 663 precincts reporting.

"I am honored that the hardworking people of NM-02 have elected me to be their voice and fighter in Congress for a record-breaking third term," Vasquez said in a news release quoted by the Sun-News. Speaking to reporters at his election party in Las Cruces earlier in the night, he said voters were tired of inaction in Congress, Source New Mexico reported. "I pledge to be the fighter that you deserve," he said.

A swing seat that stayed put

The 2nd District runs across southern New Mexico and, after redistricting in 2021, takes in a portion of Albuquerque's South Valley, Source New Mexico reported. Republican Yvette Herrell held the seat from 2020 to 2022. Vasquez beat her narrowly in 2022 and beat her again in 2024. State Republicans sued over the new boundaries, but a judge upheld them.

Individual donors and outside political action committees spent upwards of $21 million on the race, Source New Mexico reported. The National Republican Congressional Committee treated flipping the seat as a key goal. President Donald Trump endorsed Cunningham, and House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the state twice to campaign for him. Democratic backed groups ran ads saying Cunningham would fall fully in line with Trump's agenda.

Cunningham is a former Marine and Albuquerque police officer. Vasquez campaigned on health care, defending public lands and standing up to Trump, according to the NMSU Round Up account of the race.

A new father on election night

Vasquez announced on Nov. 1 that he and his fiancee, Nikki, had welcomed their first son. On election night he told Source New Mexico he had slept about 12 hours in the previous 48 hours. "Having an Election Day baby is a little bit stressful, but I am still proud," he said.

The win means New Mexico sends its full Democratic House slate back to Washington. Rep. Melanie Stansbury won a fourth term in the 1st District and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez won reelection in the 3rd, the Sun-News reported. All results are unofficial until canvassed. The State Board of Canvass meets on Nov. 24, 2026, to certify the results and order any automatic recounts.