New Mexico's 2nd congressional district

Summary

New Mexico's 2nd congressional district serves the southern half of New Mexico, including Las Cruces, and the southern fourth of Albuquerque. It is currently represented by Democrat Gabe Vasquez.

New Mexico's 2nd congressional district
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative
  Gabe Vasquez
DLas Cruces
Distribution
  • 70.82% urban
  • 29.18% rural
Population (2022)696,764
Median household
income
$53,550[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVID+1[2]

History edit

Historically, the district has leaned more Republican than New Mexico's other two districts, particularly in presidential elections. In the 2020 election, Republican candidate Yvette Herrell defeated Democratic representative Xochitl Torres Small in a rematch of their race in 2018. Herrell is the third Native woman elected to Congress and she assumed office on January 3, 2021. Following the 2020 census, each congressional district in the state underwent redistricting "to ensure that each district has a variety of constituents better reflecting the diversity of interests in New Mexico as a whole."[3] This district was made much more Democratic, as it gained more of Albuquerque while losing some heavily Republican areas in the eastern part of the state. With a tight margin, Democratic challenger Gabe Vasquez won the 2022 midterm election.[4] Nevertheless, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+1, it is the least Democratic district in New Mexico, a state with an all-Democratic congressional delegation.[2]

Election results from statewide races edit

Results under current lines (since 2023)
Year Office Result
2016 President Clinton 47.6% – 41.5%
2018 Governor Lujan Grisham 55.4% - 44.6%
Senate Heinrich 52.9% - 32.7%
2020 President Biden 51.9% - 46.0%
Senate Luján 50.2%- 47.0%
Results under old lines (2013-2023)[5]
Results under old lines (2003-2013)[6]

List of members representing the district edit

Member
(Residence)
Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history District location
District established January 3, 1969
 
Ed Foreman
(Las Cruces)
Republican January 3, 1969 –
January 3, 1971
91st Elected in 1968.
Lost re-election.
1969–1983
Catron, Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Roosevelt, San Juan, Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia
 
Harold Runnels
(Lovington)
Democratic January 3, 1971 –
August 5, 1980
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
Elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Died.
Vacant August 5, 1980 –
January 3, 1981
96th
 
Joe Skeen
(Picacho)
Republican January 3, 1981 –
January 3, 2003
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
Elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Retired.
1983–1993
[data missing]
1993–2003
Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, De Baca, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia
 
Steve Pearce
(Hobbs)
Republican January 3, 2003 –
January 3, 2009
108th
109th
110th
Elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
2003–2013
 
Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, De Baca, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia
 
Harry Teague
(Hobbs)
Democratic January 3, 2009 –
January 3, 2011
111th Elected in 2008.
Lost re-election.
 
Steve Pearce
(Hobbs)
Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2019
112th
113th
114th
115th
Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Retired to run for Governor of New Mexico.
2013–2023
 
Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, De Baca, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Roosevelt, Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia
 
Xochitl Torres Small
(Las Cruces)
Democratic January 3, 2019 –
January 3, 2021
116th Elected in 2018.
Lost re-election.
 
Yvette Herrell
(Alamogordo)
Republican January 3, 2021 –
January 3, 2023
117th Elected in 2020.
Lost re-election.
 
Gabe Vasquez
(Las Cruces)
Democratic January 3, 2023 –
present
118th Elected in 2022. 2023–present
 
Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, and Valencia

Election results edit

1968 edit

1968 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ed Foreman 71,857 50.48
Democratic E. S. Johnny Walker 69,858 49.08
Independent Wilfredo Sedillo 633 0.44
Total votes 142,348 100.0
Republican win (new seat)

1970 edit

1970 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harold L. Runnels 64,518 51.37
Republican Ed Foreman (Incumbent) 61,074 48.63
Total votes 125,592 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

1972 edit

1972 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent) 116,152 72.17
Republican George E. Presson 44,784 27.83
Total votes 160,936 100.0
Democratic hold

1974 edit

1974 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent) 90,127 66.74
Republican Donald W. Trubey 43,045 31.88
American Independent Herbert Horton 1,860 1.38
Total votes 135,032 100.0
Democratic hold

1976 edit

1976 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent) 123,563 70.33
Republican Donald W. Trubey 52,131 29.67
Total votes 175,694 100.0
Democratic hold

1978 edit

1978 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harold L. Runnels (Incumbent) 95,710 100.00
Total votes 95,710 100.0
Democratic hold

1980 edit

1980 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (as a write-in) 61,564 38.00
Democratic David King 55,085 34.00
Independent Dorothy Runnels (as a write-in) 45,343 28.00
Total votes 161,992 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

1982 edit

1982 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 71,021 58.40
Democratic Caleb Chandler 50,599 41.60
Total votes 121,620 100.0
Republican hold

1984 edit

1984 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 116,006 74.33
Democratic Peter R. York 40,063 25.67
Total votes 156,069 100.0
Republican hold

1986 edit

1986 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 77,787 62.88
Democratic Mike Runnels 45,924 37.12
Total votes 123,711 100.0
Republican hold

1988 edit

1988 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 100,324 100.00
Total votes 100,324 100.0
Republican hold

1990 edit

1990 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 80,677 100.00
Total votes 80,677 100.0
Republican hold

1992 edit

1992 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 94,838 56.39
Democratic Dan Sosa Jr. 73,157 43.50
Write-in 175 0.11
Total votes 168,170 100.0
Republican hold

1994 edit

1994 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 89,966 63.28
Democratic Benjamin Anthony Chavez 45,316 31.87
Green Rex R. Johnson 6,898 4.85
Total votes 142,180 100.0
Republican hold

1996 edit

1996 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 95,091 55.93
Democratic E. Shirley Baca 74,915 44.07
Total votes 170,006 100.0
Republican hold

1998 edit

1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 85,077 57.93
Democratic E. Shirley Baca 61,796 42.07
Total votes 146,873 100.0
Republican hold

2000 edit

2000 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Skeen (Incumbent) 100,742 58.11
Democratic Michael A. Montoya 72,614 41.89
Total votes 173,356 100.0
Republican hold

2002 edit

2002 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Pearce 79,631 56.23
Democratic John Arthur Smith 61,916 43.72
Green George L. Dewey (as a write-in) 43 0.03
Republican Padraig M. Lynch (as a write-in) 39 0.02
Total votes 141,629 100.0
Republican hold

2004 edit

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Pearce (Incumbent) 130,498 60.20
Democratic Gary King 86,292 39.80
Total votes 216,790 100.0
Republican hold

2006 edit

2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Pearce (Incumbent) 92,620 59.42
Democratic Albert Kissling 63,119 40.49
Democratic C. Dean Burk (as a write-in) 135 0.09
Total votes 155,874 100.0
Republican hold

2008 edit

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Harry Teague 129,572 55.96
Republican Edward R. Tinsley 101,980 44.04
Total votes 231,552 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2010 edit

2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Pearce 94,053 55.40
Democratic Harry Teague (Incumbent) 75,709 44.60
Total votes 169,762 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2012 edit

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Pearce (Incumbent) 133,180 59.06
Democratic Evelyn Madrid Erhard 92,162 40.87
Independent Jack A. McGrann (Write-In) 173 0.08
Total votes 225,515 100.0
Republican hold

2014 edit

2014 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Pearce (Incumbent) 95,209 64.43
Democratic Rocky Lara 52,499 35.52
Republican Jack McGrann (Write-In) 69 0.05
Total votes 147,777 100
Republican hold

2016 edit

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Pearce (Incumbent) 143,514 62.72
Democratic Merrie Lee Soules 85,232 37.25
Republican Jack A McGrann (write in) 70 0.03
Total votes 228,816 100
Republican hold

2018 edit

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xochitl Torres Small 101,489 50.90
Republican Yvette Herrell 97,767 49.10
Total votes 199,256 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2020 edit

2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Yvette Herrell 142,169 53.75
Democratic Xochitl Torres Small (incumbent) 122,314 46.25
Total votes 264,483 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

2022 edit

2022 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico: District 2
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gabe Vasquez 96,986 50.34
Republican Yvette Herrell (incumbent) 95,636 49.64
Total votes 192,217 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

See also edit

References edit

  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
  1. ^ Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
  2. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "New Mexico Redistricting is Completed". Lea County Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Democrats Make a Clean Sweep in New Mexico". Lea County Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "Daily Kos Elections 2008 & 2012 presidential election results for congressional districts used in 2012 & 2014 elections - Google Drive". docs.google.com.
  6. ^ Presidential Election Results, by district, swingstateproject.com
  7. ^ "1968 Election Results" (PDF).
  8. ^ "1970 Election Results" (PDF).
  9. ^ "1972 Election Results" (PDF).
  10. ^ "1974 Election Results" (PDF).
  11. ^ "1976 Election Results" (PDF).
  12. ^ "1978 Election Results" (PDF).
  13. ^ "1980 Election Results" (PDF).
  14. ^ "1982 Election Results" (PDF).
  15. ^ "1984 Election Results" (PDF).
  16. ^ "1986 Election Results" (PDF).
  17. ^ "1988 Election Results" (PDF).
  18. ^ "1990 Election Results" (PDF).
  19. ^ "1992 Election Results" (PDF).
  20. ^ "1994 Election Results" (PDF).
  21. ^ "1996 Election Results" (PDF).
  22. ^ "1998 Election Results" (PDF).
  23. ^ "2000 Election Results" (PDF).
  24. ^ "2002 Election Results" (PDF).
  25. ^ "2004 Election Results" (PDF).
  26. ^ "2006 Election Results" (PDF).
  27. ^ "2008 Election Results" (PDF).
  28. ^ "2010 Election Results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  29. ^ "Statewide Results". New Mexico Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 27, 2017.
  30. ^ "Official Results General Election - November 4, 2014". New Mexico Secretary of State. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  31. ^ "Election Night Results - November 8, 2016". New Mexico Secretary of State. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  32. ^ "Election Night Results - November 6, 2018". New Mexico Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.

33°23′07″N 106°17′58″W / 33.38528°N 106.29944°W / 33.38528; -106.29944