LAS CRUCES, NM– Today, veterans from across southern New Mexico — including Vanessa Ordoñez, Roland Cooper, and Jeff Swanson — stood in support of NM-02 incumbent Congressman and Democratic nominee Gabe Vasquez as he continues his fight to expand access to VA health care, benefits, and in-person assistance for rural and southern New Mexico veterans.
Veterans stand in support of Gabe Vasquez at Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park on September 8, 2026. (Courtesy of Gabe Vasquez for Congress)
“We are living in a time where our veterans are struggling to get their basic needs met, and so many leaders are constantly putting politics over people. Just last week, President Trump called the 18 lives lost in his illegal war with Iran ‘small potatoes.’ And my opponent is so desperate to appease the President and keep the flow of money coming into this race, he hasn’t condemned those remarks or stood up for our veterans. That is shameful, and it’s wrong. I will stand up to anyone who works against the interests of our state and our community, and I will work with anyone who wants to ensure these heroes have access to their benefits,” said NM-02 Congressman and Democratic nominee Gabe Vasquez. “New Mexicans need and deserve a fighter in DC who is willing to work with anyone or stand up to anyone to do what is right. And simply put, if you can’t say the President is wrong for calling lost lives ‘small potatoes’ you do not deserve to run to represent New Mexico.”
“As a combat veteran, I know firsthand that service changes you. In the military, we learn and we understand that we do not leave anybody behind. I believe that that commitment should continue long after you take off that uniform. Our veterans have earned the care and benefits promised to them. They should not have to fight another battle to receive them. When VA staffing is reduced, appointments become harder to access,” said Vanessa Ordoñez, Navy veteran and candidate for Doña Ana County sheriff. “As a combat veteran myself, I support Congressman Gabe Vasquez for Congress. My support comes from a belief that promises made to our servicemembers must be kept. I support Congressman Vasquez because he is willing to speak up when veterans’ care and benefits are at risk. I also especially appreciate his attention to southern New Mexico because Gabe is from here…and he understands what our veterans need in our community.”
Roland Cooper, Ret. MSgt. and chair of the Lincoln Otero County Veterans Leadership Council, added, “Every time I have asked Gabe to come to a meeting, he has showed up. Gabe has always answered the call. He’s a bipartisan worker.”
“We all want a secure and prosperous nation, and the way to get that is to have intelligent, smart people in charge…we have that in Gabe Vasquez,” said Jeff Swanson, Ret. Col., U.S. Air Force chaplain and former U.S. Marine Corps Sgt., “Gabe Vasquez really cares about us veterans. The President’s ‘small potatoes’ comment offends me down to my toenails. About the VA…I listened for years listening to two Congressman, both Republicans, whine and fuss and bellyache about the VA, and what did they do to help? NOTHING. Gabe on the other hand has the brains and sense to go to work for the rest of us.”
Veterans stand in support of Gabe Vasquez at Las Cruces Veterans Memorial Park on September 8, 2026. (Courtesy of Gabe Vasquez for Congress)
Gabe’s ongoing work to support New Mexico’s veteran community includes leading legislation to add Otero and Eddy counties to VA’s El Paso-based VISN 22 so veterans can access care closer to home; demanding that the VA place a full-time liaison in Socorro and increase in-person assistance across rural New Mexico; fighting back against VA staffing cuts that eliminated 172 positions in New Mexico; supporting the Major Richard Star Act to allow combat-injured veterans to receive both their full military retirement pay and VA disability compensation; and backing legislation to expand transportation and telehealth options for rural veterans.
To date, Gabe has also earned the endorsements of AFGE Local 1050; AFT New Mexico; Brady PAC; Committee of Interns and Residents of New Mexico; AFSCME Council 18; New Mexico Carpenters Local 1319; CWA Unidos Local 7076; Education Votes; Equality PAC; Giffords PAC; Human Rights Campaign; IBEW Local 611; Latino Victory; League of Conservation Voters; Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate; MoveOn; National Wildlife Action Fund; NRDC Action Fund; National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare; New Mexico State Council of Machinists; New Mexico Federation of Labor; New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Association; New Mexico State College Dems; The Next 50; Organizers in the Land of Enchantment; Repro Freedom For All; SMART Local 49; Stop Gun Violence PAC; and Young Democrats of New Mexico.
Congressman Gabe Vasquez is the only Democrat to have won New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District twice consecutively. In 2022, he beat incumbent Yvette Herrell by the tightest margin in the country (0.7%). Last cycle, Congressman Vasquez again defeated Yvette Herrell, this time by 4% — the same year that Donald Trump won the district by 2% — making him one of just 14 Democrats to win a district that went for Trump in 2024. Congressman Vasquez has continued to win over Democrat, Republican and Independent voters because he is willing to work with anyone to deliver results for New Mexicans on the issues they care most about: lowering the cost of living, expanding access to health care, protecting our public lands, and fixing our broken immigration system. In November, he will set another historic record by winning New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District for a third consecutive cycle.
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