The Winner

Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) won a third term representing New Mexico's competitive 2nd Congressional District, keeping the seat in Democratic hands as his party regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives. His victory helps Democrats secure their new majority in a district that President Donald Trump carried in the 2024 presidential election. ​

If you live in New Mexico's 2nd U.S. House District, you will continue to be represented in Congress by Vasquez, who has been declared the winner of the congressional race, according to the Associated Press, which called the race on Nov. 3. Unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State show Vasquez received 123,113 votes, or 58.7%, defeating Republican Greg Cunningham, who received 86,650 votes, or 41.3%. Vasquez led by 36,463 votes, or approximately 17.4 percentage points, with all 663 precincts reporting.

The Race

Greg Cunningham, the Republican opponent, advanced from the June 2 primary to face Vasquez in the general election. Cunningham won 84.5% of the Republican primary vote, defeating Jose Orozco, who had withdrawn from the race but remained on the ballot. Cook Political Report rated the seat Lean Democratic heading into Election Day, and Inside Elections rated it Tilt Democratic.

The district was a significant Democratic defense because Trump narrowly carried it in the 2024 presidential election, receiving approximately 49.9% of the vote to Democrat Kamala Harris' 48.1%. Vasquez nevertheless won reelection that year with approximately 52.1% of the vote, defeating Republican Yvette Herrell. His latest victory came by a substantially wider margin.

New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District covers much of southern New Mexico, extending north into portions of the Albuquerque metropolitan area and including Catron, Chaves, Doña Ana, Eddy and Grant counties, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Geographies data for the district puts its population at approximately 707,320, with a median household income of about $57,900 and a median age of 37. About 24.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the unemployment rate is approximately 6.3%, and roughly one in five residents lives below the poverty line. About 60.5% of the district's population is Hispanic or Latino, making it a majority-Hispanic district.

What's Next

Vasquez's third term begins Jan. 3, 2027. With Democrats taking control of the House, his party will gain authority over committee leadership, the legislative agenda, and congressional oversight of the Trump administration.

Vasquez has said his priorities include the economy and border policy, including a proposed American Immigration Plan to streamline legal work status and invest in technology at ports of entry, according to KRQE, which reported his comments on Nov. 3.

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