Gabe Vasquez

Gabe Vasquez
Born	Gabriel Vasquez 3 8, 1984
Birthplace	El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district
Education	New Mexico State University (BA)
Website	[[vasquez.house.gov vasquez.house.gov] Official site]

Gabriel "Gabe" Vasquez (born August 3, 1984) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Vasquez previously served on the Las Cruces City Council representing District 3 from 2017 to 2021. Born in El Paso, Texas, and raised along the U.S.–Mexico border, Vasquez's political career has been shaped by the issues facing southern New Mexico, a vast and diverse district that encompasses Las Cruces, Carlsbad, and the southern portion of Albuquerque. He defeated Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell in the 2022 midterm elections, flipping one of the most closely watched congressional seats in the country. In Congress, Vasquez has focused on issues including public lands conservation, immigration policy, law enforcement funding, and healthcare affordability. He has also drawn attention for occasionally breaking with his party on select votes, reflecting the politically competitive nature of his district.

Early Life

Gabriel Vasquez was born on August 3, 1984, in El Paso, Texas, situated on the U.S.–Mexico border. He grew up in the border region, an experience that informed his understanding of immigration, trade, and the cultural ties between the United States and Mexico. Vasquez eventually settled in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he became involved in community affairs and local politics.

Before entering public office, Vasquez worked in roles related to conservation and community development in southern New Mexico. His background as a conservationist and outdoorsman has been a consistent element of his public identity, and he has written publicly about the importance of public lands and outdoor recreation to New Mexico's economy and way of life.

Education

Vasquez attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. NMSU has remained a significant institution in Vasquez's career; as a sitting congressman, he has returned to campus to engage with students and faculty. In October 2025, Vasquez visited NMSU to meet with students at the university.

Career

Las Cruces City Council (2017–2021)

Vasquez entered electoral politics in 2017 when he ran for the Las Cruces City Council representing District 3. He won the seat in a decisive victory in the November 2017 municipal election, succeeding Olga Pedroza. During his tenure on the city council, Vasquez served from November 2017 through December 2021. He was succeeded on the council by Becki Graham.

As a city councilor, Vasquez gained experience in local governance issues including infrastructure, public safety, and economic development in Las Cruces, the second-largest city in New Mexico. His time on the council provided him with a platform and name recognition that would prove valuable in his subsequent congressional campaign.

2022 Congressional Campaign

In September 2021, Vasquez announced his candidacy for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district, seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell. The announcement was covered widely in New Mexico media, with political observers noting that Vasquez represented a credible challenge in the district.

The district had been redrawn following the 2020 census and redistricting process, and the new boundaries of the 2nd district incorporated the southern portion of Albuquerque in addition to its traditional base in southern New Mexico, including Las Cruces and Carlsbad. This redistricting was seen as making the district more competitive for Democrats.

In March 2022, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) named Vasquez to its "Red to Blue" program, which provides strategic, fundraising, and communications support to top Democratic challengers in competitive races. This designation signaled that national Democrats viewed the race as one of their strongest pickup opportunities in the 2022 midterm cycle.

Vasquez won the Democratic primary election in June 2022, securing his party's nomination to face Herrell in the general election.

In the November 2022 general election, Vasquez defeated Herrell, contributing to a broader Democratic sweep of federal offices in New Mexico. The victory flipped the seat from Republican to Democratic control and made Vasquez the representative for one of the largest congressional districts by area in the country.

U.S. House of Representatives (2023–present)

Vasquez was sworn in as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district on January 3, 2023, succeeding Yvette Herrell.

Legislative Record and Key Votes

In Congress, Vasquez has at times voted across party lines on select issues. Early in the 118th Congress, he was among a small group of Democrats who joined House Republicans in voting to lift the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. He also voted with Republicans on a measure to end the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. These votes reflected the competitive political dynamics of his district, where moderate and independent voters play a significant role in election outcomes.

Immigration Policy

Immigration has been a central issue for Vasquez, whose district shares a border with Mexico. In February 2026, Vasquez expressed full support for the New Mexico Legislature's Immigrant Safety Act, which would ban state and local government contracts with private operators of ICE detention facilities. Vasquez stated that rural counties in New Mexico needed to pursue better economic models than reliance on private prison operators that detain immigrants. He called for the creation of alternative job opportunities in affected communities, framing the issue as both a humanitarian and economic concern.

Healthcare Legislation

In February 2026, Vasquez introduced H.R. 7478, the Patient Debt Relief Act, aimed at addressing the burden of medical debt on patients. The bill reflected Vasquez's focus on healthcare affordability, an issue of particular concern in southern New Mexico, where many communities face limited access to healthcare facilities and higher rates of uninsured residents.

Law Enforcement and Public Safety

Vasquez has worked to secure federal funding for law enforcement technology in his district. In February 2026, he announced $500,000 in federal funding for Bernalillo County's law enforcement technology upgrades, which he highlighted during a drone demonstration event. The funding was directed toward modernizing the county's public safety capabilities, including the deployment of drone technology for law enforcement purposes.

Public Lands and Conservation

Conservation and the protection of public lands have been consistent themes in Vasquez's congressional work. He has identified himself as a conservationist and outdoorsman, and has written about the importance of keeping public lands accessible and in public ownership. In a guest essay for Field & Stream published in early 2026, Vasquez discussed the challenges facing public lands and waters and the need for continued federal commitment to their protection. New Mexico's 2nd district encompasses large tracts of federal land, including portions of national forests, Bureau of Land Management territory, and areas important for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, making public lands policy a salient issue for constituents.

Airspace and Border Security

In February 2026, Vasquez addressed concerns related to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airspace restrictions around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, near the U.S.–Mexico border. He released a statement indicating that the airspace in the area would remain closed, reflecting ongoing security and regulatory considerations in the border region.

2026 Primary Challenge

In December 2025, a Democratic Socialist candidate launched a primary challenge against Vasquez ahead of the 2026 election cycle. The challenge reflected tensions within the Democratic Party between its progressive and moderate wings, particularly on issues such as immigration enforcement and economic policy. Vasquez's occasional cross-party votes during his tenure in Congress have been cited by critics on his left as evidence that he is insufficiently progressive for the district's Democratic base, while supporters have argued that his approach reflects the political realities of representing a competitive swing district.

Political Positions

Vasquez has staked out positions on a range of issues during his time in Congress. On immigration, he has supported legislative efforts to ban ICE detention contracts with private operators at the state level, while representing a border district where immigration policy is a daily concern for many constituents.

On public health, Vasquez broke with the majority of his party in early 2023 by voting to end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers and to terminate the COVID-19 national emergency declaration.

On conservation, he has positioned himself as a defender of public lands, arguing that federal lands should remain accessible to the public for recreation, hunting, and fishing.

On healthcare policy, his introduction of the Patient Debt Relief Act in 2026 signaled a focus on reducing the financial burden of medical costs on individuals and families.

Electoral History

Year	Office	Result
2017	Las Cruces City Council, District 3	Won
2022	U.S. House, New Mexico's 2nd district	Won (defeated Yvette Herrell)

External Links

• Official congressional website
• Campaign website
• Congressional profile at Congress.gov
• Campaign finance data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN