Sheriff Allen in new ad live in NM-02 today: “I’m here to make this clear — Congressman Gabe Vasquez supports law enforcement. Period.” 

“They brought the lies, so I brought the receipts:” Gabe shoots down “defund” lies with receipts for millions he has secured for local police in new NM-02 ad

Gabe and Sheriff Allen, Courtesy Photo

Las Cruces, NM – Today, Gabe announced he had earned the endorsements of key public safety officials from across NM-02, including Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart, and former Anthony Chief of Police and candidate for Doña Ana County Sheriff Vanessa Ordoñez. The officials cited Gabe’s longstanding record of bringing home millions of dollars in funding for New Mexico law enforcement, his commitment to showing up for local communities, and his reputation as a fighter for New Mexico as reasons to support Gabe’s re-election campaign.

“For almost a decade, I have consistently voted to increase funding for our law enforcement officers. On the Las Cruces City Council, I voted to increase police funding by $3.8 million, and in Congress, I have worked with both Democrats and Republicans to bring home over $3 million in funding for our officers in Carlsbad, Albuquerque, and many communities in between,” said Democratic candidate and incumbent Gabe Vasquez. “Like me, the law enforcement officials endorsing me today deal in facts, and they know that I will always show up and fight for them to keep New Mexicans safe.” 

“I’ve been hearing a lot of noise lately, a lot of talk that just isn’t true. I want to set the record straight: I’ve spent my career on the front lines of law enforcement, I know what it takes to keep our community safe, and I know who actually shows up for us — Gabe Vasquez,” said John Allen, Sheriff of Bernalillo County. “He supports law enforcement. Gabe has brought millions of dollars in funding to police departments and public safety facilities right here in the district, from Carlsbad to Deming to Albuquerque and beyond. He has worked across the aisle with Republican and Democratic leadership on bills to help small and rural departments recruit and retain officers. So don’t let anyone tell you differently — Gabe Vasquez has our back, and he always puts New Mexico first.”

“One thing I know about Gabe Vasquez is he learns from experience. New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District is a vast landscape of competing interests and concerns, and navigating it requires a lot of flexibility. Gabe has proven he is up to the task. For example, he supports a stronger presence on our southern border through technology.  When I call, he answers, and when he has questions, he calls me directly,” said Kim Stewart, Sheriff of Doña Ana County. “We are lucky to be represented by a person who has shown personal growth over the years. In my experience, that is a rare quality.”

Sheriff John Allen endorses Gabe in new ad “Sheriff,” which goes live in NM-02 today 

New Ad “Sheriff” Live Today: A new ad featuring Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen — titled “Sheriff” — goes live in NM-02 today. In the ad, Sheriff Allen lays out Gabe’s nearly decade-long record of investing in public safety — from increasing police funding on the Las Cruces City Council to bringing billions of dollars home for local law enforcement in Congress. “I’m here to make this clear. Congressman Gabe Vasquez supports law enforcement. Period,” says Sheriff Allen. “In Congress, he worked with Republicans to deliver $4 billion dollars in funding to New Mexico police departments, so we can keep you safe. Gabe stands with police. He always has — so I stand with him.”

“Receipts” goes live in NM-02 today in both English and Spanish

New Ad “Receipts” Live Today: Gabe attacked MAGA’s “defund” lies about his public safety record head-on today with a new ad called “Receipts” that goes live in NM-02 today in both English and Spanish. “They brought the lies, so I brought the receipts,” says Gabe in the ad. He goes on to lay out a nearly decade-long record of investing in public safety — from increasing police funding on the Las Cruces City Council to bringing millions of dollars home for local law enforcement in Congress. 

“On the Las Cruces City Council, I increased police funding by $3.8 million. In Congress, I worked with Republicans to secure $9 billion for new police equipment, vehicles, and technology. And I stood up to my own party to stop cashless bail and keep us safe,” he says. “The truth is, I back law enforcement — I always have — and I’ve got the receipts.” 

Vasquez has repeatedly fought to bring home funding and resources for New Mexico’s law enforcement officers, dating all the way back to his time on Las Cruces City Council:

  • Voted to increase police funding by $3.8 million dollars while serving on Las Cruces City Council
  • Brought home over $3.75 million in federal Community Project Funding for local police departments and public safety, including new technology to stop criminals, police station upgrades, new vehicles, and more:
    • $1,069,000 investment in the ABQ Real Time Crime Center 
    • $800,000 to bolster rural communication for the State Police
    • $500,000 to secure a Command Vehicle for Luna County 
    • $500,000 in technology upgrades for the Bernalillo County Sheriff 
    • $637,195 to build an Emergency Operation Center for Sierra County
    • $250,000 to upgrade the Carlsbad Police Department 
  • Secured nearly $500,000 for Las Cruces Fire Department to expand paramedic training for local first responders
  • Secured over $3.4 million in federal funding for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to combat gun violence, drug trafficking, substance abuse, and other violent crimes to improve public safety across New Mexico
  • Led and passed the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act out of the House to help crack down on organized crime that keeps razors, shampoo, electronics, and every day goods locked up behind glass
  • Supported small law enforcement agencies by leading the bipartisan push to increase funding for recruitment and retention of officers
  • Introduced and/or supported 10 bills endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police to combat criminal drone use, increase funding for departments with under 175 officers, and more
  • Fought against Trump Administration cuts to HIDTA, a key anti-drug trafficking program, and led the bipartisan Fight Fentanyl Act to re-fund it

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 (OLÉ); Repro Freedom For All; Semilla Action; Sierra Club; SMART Local 49; Stop Gun Violence PAC; and Young Democrats of New Mexico.

Gabe 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, Gabe 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. Gabe 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. Voters can learn more about the campaign and Gabe’s record by visiting www.gabeforcongress.com.

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