New Mexico’s 2nd District: A Crucial Battleground in the 2024 Elections

With less than 80 days until the November general election, both Democrats and Republicans are ramping up their campaigns, aiming to secure not only the White House but also control of both chambers of Congress.

As all races are expected to be fiercely contested, House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly made his way to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to endorse former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, a Republican from the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

“We came here to turn up the heat in this district,” Johnson stated at Herrell’s newly opened campaign office. “I am so excited about Yvette getting back in this battle. She served with us in Congress, and we desperately need her back. She is a great spirit, a fighter, and a small businesswoman and job creator.”

Herrell, who is of Cherokee heritage and the first Republican Native woman elected to Congress, is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez. She narrowly lost to Vasquez two years ago after the Democratic-controlled state Legislature redrew her district, extending it all the way to Albuquerque.

During his visit, Speaker Johnson emphasized the critical importance of winning the 2nd District in November, while praising Herrell’s public service career.

“She has proven herself in the state Legislature and did so in Congress as well. But we have a tough district here, right? The 2nd District of New Mexico is one of the big ‘toss-up’ districts in the country, but we’re going to prove them wrong,” Johnson asserted.

The race for New Mexico’s 2nd District remains highly competitive, considered a toss-up with a slight advantage for Democrats, according to the Washington Examiner. The contest has also drawn national attention, as no incumbent has successfully defended the seat in the last two election cycles.

Despite some polls suggesting that Republicans may fall short of the 218 districts needed to control the House, optimism remains high among GOP members, including Herrell.

Acknowledging the Speaker’s endorsement, Herrell underscored the need to reclaim what she described as the “moral high ground.”

“In our nation right now, they are burning flags, they’re saying, ‘Death to America!’ How is that possible in a country where we have service members and vets who fought so hard to keep us free? This is where we are at,” Herrell remarked.

Meanwhile, Vasquez remains confident in his chances.

“The future of our country is at stake,” Vasquez told Border Report while attending a trade meeting in Sunland Park, Mexico. “In Chicago, Democrats are delivering a message of positivity about a brighter future for Americans… For me, it’s a duty that I’ve chosen, it’s the public service that I’ve entered. So, it’s critically important that New Mexicans come out to vote and choose somebody who has put the work in and been able to deliver for this district, which I have.”