LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Border Report) — Even though preliminary election results gave Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez a few percentage points’ lead late into the night, the incumbent declined to claim victory over GOP challenger Yvette Herrell on Tuesday in the race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District.
Vasquez remained out of sight at a Democratic victory party at Amador’s restaurant, where a mariachi band played and party officials, candidates and volunteers celebrated the projected reelection of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, U.S. Rep. Teresa Fernandez, and Sen. Martin Heinrich. Vice President Kamala Harris also claimed the state on her presidential bid.
Instead, Vasquez’s campaign manager Dylan McCarthur thanked the crowd of supporters and told everyone to go home.
“The race is too close to call. The vote is trickling in. We are optimistic the results will keep Gabe in Congress,” McCarthur said. “Because so much of this vote is outstanding, and seeing how this race was called late in the night last cycle, we are calling it a night.”
Vasquez took Herrell’s House seat two years ago by less than one percentage point in what was one of the closest races for Congress that election cycle. Herrell in that race complained that the state Legislature’s “gerrymandering” factored heavily into her loss. The once mostly rural district now stretches north into Albuquerque, the state’s largest urban center.
The district includes all of the state’s border with Mexico and its ports of entry, part of southeastern New Mexico’s oil-rich territories and a migrant-smuggling corridor in Sunland Park-Santa Teresa that has claimed many migrants’ lives in the past three years.
Vasquez touted getting funding for southern New Mexico agencies and community organizations was included in federal appropriations.
Herrell emphasized her support for trade, border security and family values during her two years in office.
Border Report sought out Herrell for comment Tuesday night. Her campaign manager said he couldn’t promise an interview and the staff at Herrell’s campaign office said she wasn’t there and asked the press to wait outside.
Border Report will update the race once full preliminary results are announced and the candidates make a statement.
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