Gabriel (Gabe) Vasquez

Gabriel “Gabe” Vasquez is a Democratic U.S. Representative representing New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, having first been elected to the seat in November 2022. Born on August 3, 1984, in El Paso, Texas, he was raised in the border region of El Paso, Las Cruces, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. He attended New Mexico State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and journalism in 2008. His early professional career included working as a business editor for the Las Cruces Bulletin and serving as the executive director of the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, alongside roles as a field representative for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich. Before entering federal office, Vasquez served as a member of the Las Cruces City Council from 2017 to 2021. During his council tenure, he focused on local infrastructure, park improvements, and economic development initiatives aimed at reducing poverty. He also developed a background in environmental advocacy, working with organizations such as the Wilderness Society and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. He was notably instrumental in the effort to designate the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument, protecting significant public lands in southern New Mexico from development. In Congress, Vasquez serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Armed Services. His legislative focus has included veterans' healthcare, rural infrastructure, and border security. He has championed the TRICARE Travel Improvement Act to assist military families and has worked to secure federal resources for wildfire prevention. As a first-generation Mexican-American, he often highlights his personal background to inform his approach to immigration reform and border policy, advocating for solutions that address both security and humanitarian needs.

Vasquez supports economic policies such as raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, and repealing tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent to support working families. In healthcare, he advocates for a public option, lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 55, and allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. He is a vocal supporter of reproductive rights, including protecting access to abortion and contraception. On immigration, he promotes his “New American Immigration Plan,” which emphasizes border security alongside pathways to legal status for workers in critical sectors like agriculture and healthcare. A conservationist by trade, he supports clean energy investments and public land protections, while also favoring an “all-of-the-above” energy approach that includes oil and gas production in the Permian Basin. Regarding foreign policy, he has supported measures to condition security assistance to ensure international partners meet human rights standards. He also supports common-sense gun safety laws, including universal background checks and bans on assault weapons, while stating his respect for the Second Amendment as a gun owner.