New Mexico
The contest in one New Mexico swing district mirrors a larger, anxious electorate
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — On a warm Albuquerque evening with the majestic Sandia Mountains in the distance, New Mexico Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez is rallying supporters with a chant.
They’re using a common Spanish refrain this time of year: “Si, se puede,” which translates to “yes we can.”
The supporters were celebrating the launch of Vasquez’s new Albuquerque campaign office. Harley motorcycle riders, military veterans, state politicians and retirees all gathered from different corners of this large district in southern New Mexico, where two of the biggest issues in this election — immigration and abortion rights — are at the heart of a tightly-contested U.S. House race.
Democrats and Republicans both think they can win the state’s Second Congressional District — one of the swingiest districts in the country. However, the outcome is anyone’s guess for this largely rural corner of the state that has flipped red to blue and back again for more than 50 years.
Vasquez’s supporters believe the freshman congressman will be re-elected easily, even as he’s facing a tough rematch. Vasquez beat former Republican Congresswoman Yvette Herrell by only 1,350 votes in 2022.
“The momentum is behind him. He’s done an incredible job,” said state Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas.
“I think he’s probably got a better job this time,” said Karin Kalodimos, a new resident to the district from Nashville.
“As you can tell by the turnout, people are energized,” said state Rep. Art De la Cruz.
The Second Congressional District stretches from Albuquerque to the state’s borders with Mexico and Texas. Vasquez likes to remind supporters the 2nd is larger than the state of Pennsylvania.
In an interview with NPR following a recent tour of Albuquerque’s Real Time Crime Center, Vasquez said he is also bullish about his chances.
“We have worked our butts off to make sure that the people of this district are represented,” he said. “I know that there’s a lot of national turmoil. But in New Mexico, politics truly are local and in the second district I have shown up for people. I think that’s going to come out in the election results.”
A focus on crime and the border
Justin Hamel / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
Three hours south of Albuquerque at a sports bar in Las Cruces, N.M., Herrell is meeting with Republican supporters
She argues she’s poised to avenge her loss against Vasquez since the issues are on her side.
“They want a secure border. They want a better economy. You know, they want safe neighborhoods. They want a good education for their children,” Herrell told NPR about voters in the community. “It always seems to be coalescing around those issues in the Second Congressional District.”
Herrell is hitting Vasquez on crime and border issues — after all, Albuquerque and Las Cruces boast some of the highest crime rates in the country.
And supporters like Rebecca Dow, who is running for the New Mexico state House, says border issues hit different here.
“I know people say every community and every city is a border community now, but we’ve been living this, we’ve been living it,” she said.
That’s why Republicans angling to keep control of the U.S. House say this seat is among the top dozen races to flip this cycle.
Still, Herrell’s supporters concede there’s some headwinds, including Democratic redistricting in 2021 that shifted the district more blue.
Republicans are also hitting Vasquez on past controversies — including an arrest two decades ago for outstanding traffic tickets before his time in public office.
“Yvette Herrell can run on my traffic tickets and I will run on my record,” he said.
Democrats are talking about abortion to blunt GOP attacks
It marks one of many bitter turns in this fight
And while Republicans think they have the upper hand on the issues, Democrats are outraising and outspending Herrell dramatically.
They’ve also leaned into crime and border issues, while simultaneously blunting Republican attacks with their own on access to abortion.
“When you are very poor state and you’ve got people living 200-plus miles from a hospital or a health care provider, it’s hard,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said following a recent event with Vasquez.
They joined other state and local officials for the groundbreaking of a new reproductive health clinic
Supporters argue the new facility could be a major lifeline for women in this state and beyond.
It’s all part of what makes this a critical race in what Lujan Grisham concedes are challenging political times.
“People are anxious and frustrated and angry at elected officials for a number of valid reasons,” she said. “You know, it’s hard out there.”
Copyright 2024 NPR
New Mexico
New Mexico (NMAA) High School Boys Basketball State Championship Brackets, Schedules – March 7, 2026
The 2026 New Mexico high school boys basketball state championships begin on Saturday, March 7, with 40 games in the first round of action.
High School on SI has brackets for every classification in the New Mexico high school basketball state brackets. The championship games begin on March 14 at the University of New Mexico – The Pit.
New Mexico (NMAA) High School Basketball State Championship Brackets, Schedule – March 7
No. 1 Volcano Vista vs. No. 16 Santa Fe – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 8 Las Cruces vs. No. 9 Albuquerque – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 5 Hobbs vs. No. 12 Organ Mountain – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 4 La Cueva vs. No. 13 Atrisco Heritage Academy – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 3 Rio Rancho vs. No. 14 Mayfield – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 6 Sandia vs. No. 11 Farmington – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 7 Centennial vs. No. 10 Carlsbad – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 2 Cleveland vs. No. 15 Alamogordo – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 1 Highland vs. No. 16 Grants – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 8 Belen vs. No. 9 Portales – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 5 Taos vs. No. 12 St. Pius X – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 4 Del Norte vs. No. 13 Valencia – 03/07, 7:00 PM MT
No. 3 Hope Christian vs. No. 14 Pojoaque Valley – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 6 Albuquerque Academy vs. No. 11 Goddard – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 7 Gallup vs. No. 10 Silver – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 2 Artesia vs. No. 15 Bloomfield – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 1 St. Michael’s vs. No. 16 Wingate – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 8 Tohatchi vs. No. 9 New Mexico Military Institute – 03/07, 3:00 PM MT
No. 5 Santa Fe Indian vs. No. 12 Sandia Prep – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 4 Navajo Prep vs. No. 13 Hot Springs – 03/07, 3:00 PM MT
No. 3 Cobre vs. No. 14 Ruidoso – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 6 Bosque vs. No. 11 Cottonwood Classical Prep – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 7 East Mountain vs. No. 10 Robertson – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 2 Tularosa vs. No. 15 West Las Vegas – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 1 Texico vs. No. 16 Clayton – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 8 Tucumcari vs. No. 9 Mora – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 5 Mesilla Valley Christian School vs. No. 12 Dulce – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 4 Santa Rosa vs. No. 13 Eunice – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 3 Mesa Vista vs. No. 14 Hozho Charter Academy – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 6 Rehoboth Christian vs. No. 11 Oak Grove Classical – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 7 Escalante vs. No. 10 Menaul – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 2 Pecos vs. No. 15 Mescalero Apache – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 1 Logan vs. No. 16 Quemado – 03/07, 4:00 PM MT
No. 8 Cliff vs. No. 9 To’hajiilee – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 5 Alamo Navajo vs. No. 12 Grady – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 4 Melrose vs. No. 13 Elida – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 3 Cimarron vs. No. 14 Pine Hill – 03/07, 5:00 PM MT
No. 6 Roy/Mosquero vs. No. 11 Mountainair – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
No. 7 Magdalena vs. No. 10 Springer – 03/07, 3:00 PM MT
No. 2 Fort Sumner/House vs. No. 15 Gateway Christian – 03/07, 6:00 PM MT
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