LAS CRUCES, Democrat Gabe Vasquez won a third congressional term Tuesday, extending his party’s hold on a southern New Mexico district that historically favored Republicans. His victory came amid Democratic gains across the country and will return him to Washington with his party in the House majority, a change after serving his first two terms in the minority.
Unofficial results at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday showed Vasquez with 123,113 votes, or 59%, against Republican Greg Cunningham’s 86,650 votes, or 41%. The figures remain subject to canvassing and certification by election authorities. Vasquez received 66% of the unofficial vote in Bernalillo County and 65% in Doña Ana County, the district’s most populous areas. Cunningham prevailed in the southeastern counties of Otero, Eddy and Lea.
The wait for Bernalillo County returns kept supporters at Vasquez’s Las Cruces restaurant watch party from celebrating until after 10 p.m., when initial numbers showed strong backing for the incumbent. Vasquez briefly left the gathering to visit his family before returning to celebrate with relatives, supporters and fellow Democrats. He and his fiancée had announced the birth of their son on Sunday.
Vasquez, 42, becomes the first Democrat since Harold Runnels in 1974 to win a third term representing the district. Raised in the border region of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, he served on the Las Cruces City Council from 2017 through 2021. Addressing supporters Tuesday night, he criticized the Trump administration and called for accountability and reform.
The district covers New Mexico’s full southern border and its southwestern corner, reaching north into Albuquerque. Its political makeup shifted after the 2020 Census, when lawmakers approved new boundaries in 2021 that removed some conservative eastern territory and brought in more Democratic voters. Even afterward, contests remained close. Vasquez defeated Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell in 2022 by 1,350 votes, less than one percentage point, then won their 2024 rematch by four points.
The election took place halfway through President Donald Trump’s second term, as Democrats sought control of the House and Senate to challenge his agenda. The party recorded victories in both chambers as results arrived, while New Mexico’s federal delegation remained entirely Democratic. For Vasquez, moving into the House majority changes the circumstances that have shaped his legislative record and committee work.
Asked earlier Tuesday about serving in a Democratic majority, Vasquez highlighted water and flood infrastructure and the protection of public lands. He also expressed willingness to cooperate with Republicans prepared to work across party lines despite the possibility of angering Trump. Discussing voters’ frustration with economic policy and Congress, he said: “They are tired of inaction in Congress.”
Cunningham, 60, is a retired Albuquerque police detective and Marine combat veteran who previously made two runs for the state Legislature. His campaign emphasized character, Christian faith, stronger border security and support for law enforcement. Republicans hoped his Bernalillo County connections would help in a district Trump carried by 1.8 percentage points in 2024. Trump endorsed Cunningham, and House Speaker Mike Johnson joined other prominent congressional Republicans in making campaign appearances.
Political action committees and individuals spent at least $22 million on the contest, exceeding spending by the candidates’ campaigns. Cunningham’s campaign did not answer the Albuquerque Journal’s request for comment. In a statement posted to social media Wednesday afternoon, Cunningham thanked volunteers and his family for their support and said he was proud of the campaign.
