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. 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. where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism in 2008.

From 2013 to 2015, Vasquez worked as a field representative for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich. 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. where he served until 2021.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections 2022

Vasquez and the 118th Congress are sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives, 2023 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 New Mexico's 2nd 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, sometimes called 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.

In December 2025, NBC News and The New York Times reported that Vasquez had voted against a bill to reopen the federal government and then touted the money the bill delivered to his district. After the federal government was reopened, primarily with Republican votes, after a 43-day shutdown, Vasquez was among Democrats who "claimed credit for some provisions in the bill." Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi coined the term "vote no and take the dough" when Republicans took credit for money brought to their districts under bills they opposed.

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: Congressional Equality Caucus Southwest Caucus (co-founder) Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus (vice chair) Future Forum

Electoral history 2022

2024