New Mexico may not be a battleground state with regards to the presidential election but it did have one battleground race: the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District race was a 2022 rematch between Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-Las Cruces, and former Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-Alamogorodo, that resulted in Vasquez winning 52 percent of the vote to Herrell’s 48 percent as of 11:59 p.m.
Decision Desk called the race for Vasquez at 11:28 p.m.
“Serving New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District is a privilege and honor, and I will continue to work for the people and families of this district and this state,” Vasquez said in a press release Tuesday night. “I am grateful for the trust that our voters have placed in me and pledge to help every constituent that I represent. It is that devotion and love of country that drives me to do this work. Thank you, New Mexico, for the opportunity to serve you again. Si se puede, sí se pudo – y ahora – regresamos a trabajar. Que viva el segundo distrito de Nuevo Mexico!”
The race was marked by attack ads from both sides.
Related: The 2024 New Mexico Election Day Live Blog
This is the first time an incumbent has won the 2nd Congressional District since 2016 when Steve Pearce won reelection before he left office to run for governor.
Pearce did not win his bid for governor and has since served as the Republican Party of New Mexico chairman.
The two elections prior to the redistricting showed another flip-flop between a Democratic winner and a Republican winner.
In 2018, Xochitl Torres Small, a Democrat from Las Cruces, won 51 percent of the vote to Herrell’s 49 percent.
A rematch followed in 2020 with Herrell winning 54 percent of the vote to Torres Small’s 46 percent.
Note: This story was updated to include Vasquez’ statement.