# Gabe Vasquez

Gabriel Vasquez (born August 3, 1984) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served on the Las Cruces City Council from 2017 to 2021. Vasquez's district covers southern New Mexico, including Las Cruces, Carlsbad, and the southern fourth of Albuquerque.

## Early life and education

Vasquez was born on August 3, 1984, in El Paso, Texas. He was raised in the El Paso–Juárez–Las Cruces border region, spending much of his childhood in both the United States and Mexico. He grew up in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, where he spent time in his grandfather's television repair shop. His grandfather Javier Bañuelos, originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, had transitioned from farming to working as a mailman before establishing his repair business.
Vasquez later attended Montwood High School in El Paso and then enrolled at New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism in 2008. During college, he served as the news editor and later as editor-in-chief of The Round Up, NMSU’s student-run newspaper.

## Career

Vasquez began his career as the business editor for the Las Cruces Bulletin from 2008 to 2011. He later served as executive director of the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce before joining SDS Inc. as executive vice president for public relations.
From 2013 to 2015, Vasquez worked as a field representative for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, focusing on community outreach and policy initiatives in New Mexico. He subsequently held leadership roles in several nonprofit organizations, including serving as vice president of communications for First Focus on Children, director of community relations for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and deputy state director for the Wilderness Society. He later worked as deputy director for federal lands at the Western Conservation Foundation from 2019 to 2021.
In 2017, Vasquez was elected to the Las Cruces City Council, where he served until 2021. During his tenure, he focused on economic development, expanding parks and improving the city's infrastructure.

## U.S. House of Representatives
### Elections
#### 2022

Vasquez was the Democratic nominee for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 election. He won on November 8, 2022, by 1,350 votes, defeating Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell. The district's boundaries were redrawn after the 2020 census, drawing the previously Republican-leaning district to be Democratic-leaning.
During the campaign, Vasquez deleted tweets critical of the oil and gas industry, rationalizing rioting in the summer of 2020, and comparing the Trump administration to the Ku Klux Klan. He supported President Joe Biden’s 2021 pause on new oil and gas leases, citing the need for a transition to renewable energy while balancing the district’s economic reliance on the energy sector.

#### 2024

Vasquez ran for reelection in 2024 against Republican former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell. in a rematch of the 2022 race, Vasquez once again defeated Herrell, this time by 11,032 votes, despite Donald Trump narrowly flipping his congressional district in the concurrent presidential election.

### Tenure

In 2023, Vasquez introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the teacher shortage in Indian Country. The bill proposed providing federal pension benefits to educators working in tribal schools, seeking to improve teacher retention and support Native American students.
Vasquez voted that year in favor of requiring healthcare workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The following day, he opposed a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency. On women's health, he has supported abortion rights and advocated for codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.
In 2024, Vasquez voted in favor of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, commonly referred to as the TikTok ban, which sought to address concerns over data security and foreign influence. On July 19, he called for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election, citing concerns over his age and ability to campaign effectively.

### Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:
* Committee on Agriculture
** Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
** Subcommittee on Forestry
* Committee on Armed Services
** Subcommittee on Readiness
** Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

### Caucus memberships

Vasquez's caucus memberships include:
* New Democrat Coalition
* Congressional Hispanic Caucus
* Southwest Caucus (co-founder)
* Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus (vice chair)

## Electoral history
### 2022

2022 New Mexico's 2nd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gabe Vasquez | 96,986 | 50.3 |
| | Republican | Yvette Herrell (incumbent) | 95,636 | 49.6 |
| | Democratic | Eliseo Luna (write-in) | 51 | 0.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 192,673 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2024

2024 New Mexico's 2nd congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gabe Vasquez (incumbent) | 138,177 | 52.1 |
| | Republican | Yvette Herrell | 127,145 | 47.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 265,322 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |