August 1, 2022
Las Cruces, NM – A new poll in the race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District shows incumbent Republican Yvette Herrell trailing Democrat Gabe Vasquez by one point and earning only 44% of the vote in an initial head to head – a dangerous position for any incumbent. Vasquez’s lead expands to four points after each candidate is introduced. The poll was conducted by Global Strategy Group and shared exclusively to National Journal Hotline, which noted that, after redistricting, MAGA Republican Herrell is one of the most vulnerable Republican members in the country.
Redistricting moved the 2nd Congressional district from a Trump +12 to Biden +6 district and that is reflected in these results. Vasquez leads Herrell 45% to 44% in the initial ballot and this lead extends to 49% to 45% after voters hear profiles of each candidate. This is a dangerous position for any incumbent, but it should be particularly worrying for Herrell that Vasquez opens such a lead even without voters being made aware of Herrell’s extreme and unpopular positions on abortion and the January 6th insurrection.
“This election is a choice. I will always put working New Mexico families first, whileYvette Herrell’s priorities are pushing a national abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest and palling around with January 6th insurrectionists,” said Gabe Vasquez.
This district was an early pick by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as one of the top pick-up opportunities in the country. The DCCC named Gabe Vasquez to their Red to Blue list of top candidates in March. Gabe Vasquez’s campaign has run a strong race, outraising Yvette Herrell in the most recent fundraising quarter by over $53,000.
With fewer than 100 days before the election in November, New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District is once again shaping up to be a key race in who will control the House of Representatives after the midterms.