Rep. Gabe Vasquez announces re-election bid

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez announced his re-election campaign Saturday. He hopes to win again in New Mexico’s Southern Congressional District.

For the second time, Vasquez is hitting the campaign trail.

“I am just so excited to be kicking off my campaign here in the South Valley, this is a new part of our district, but it is a part that I am honored to represent. The people of Bernalillo County and Albuquerque have welcomed me with open arms,” said Gabe Vasquez

Vasquez had a message for voters.

“My message to the voters today is: re-elect Gabe Vasquez, and you’ll have a hard-working New Mexican working for you in D.C.,” said Vasquez. 

Vasquez talked with voters about how his farm bill would support small farms, his work to better healthcare for veterans, and protecting reproductive healthcare. 

While he says a lot has been done, years of work lie ahead.

“We need to create good paying jobs, we need to support our labor unions, we need to make sure that people have a fair day’s work and a fair day’s pay. That is the difference between me and my opponent,” Vasquez said.

KOB 4 asked Vasquez for a comment on the governor’s controversial public health order that attempted to ban guns in public in Bernalillo County. 

“I understand that the governor has changed her orders what I will say is that I will support any legal and constitutional pathways to keep our community safe,” said Vasquez. 

The representative won back in 2022 by 1,300 votes – a small margin he hopes to widen this election cycle.

“This is truly going to be the toughest campaign of our lives because the other side is throwing falsehoods and fake information and this and that. We might hear from our congressman on that in terms of what the other side is doing but at the end of the day we have to show up,” said Majority Whip Sen. Michael Padilla.

Republican Yvette Herrel threw her hat in the ring in April when she announced she will be running against Vasquez again. 

She represented New Mexico’s Second Congressional District before he won the seat in 2022.