UPDATE:Source NM reports Gabe Vasquez, a city councilor for Las Cruces, far outpaced his primary opponent to take on Republican U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell in the newly redrawn Second Congressional District in November.
He’d cornered 76% of the vote in the final tally of unofficial election results on the Secretary of State’s website.
Vasquez will challenge Herrell in a newly competitive district for Democrats. Redistricting in December meant that a southern New Mexico region political wonks atFiveThirtyEight.com said was previously a 14-point advantage for the GOP became a district that favored Democrats by five points.
Gabe Vasquez, is a Las Cruces city councilor. He told KUNM when he talks to people their main complaint is inflation, and he wants to address the economy.
"That begins with creating good paying jobs, and creating an economy that works better for New Mexicans and holding oil and gas companies accountable," he said, adding that healthcare costs are bankrupting people, especially during the pandemic.
Darshan Patel is a doctor who grew up in Albuquerque, and now practices in Lea County. He is a first generation American and says that immigration reform is at the top of many of his potential constituents' agendas.
"I think we need to change the discourse and how we talk about migrants and asylum seekers in general, instead of demonizing people who are seeking a better life or seeking to contribute to American society," he said.
