Gabe Vasquez

Gabriel Vasquez (born August 3, 1984) is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district. He previously served as a member of the Las Cruces City Council. Vasquez is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education
Vasquez was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and journalism from New Mexico State University in 2008.

Career
As a college student, Vasquez was the news editor and editor-in-chief of The Round Up, New Mexico State University's student-run newspaper. From 2008 to 2011, he was the business editor of the Las Cruces Bulletin. In 2011, he was the executive director of the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. From 2013 to 2015, he served as a field representative for Senator Martin Heinrich.

In 2015 and 2016, Vasquez was the vice president of communications for First Focus, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization. From 2016 to 2018, he was the director of community relations for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. In 2018 and 2019, he was the deputy director of New Mexico's chapter of the Wilderness Society. From 2019 to 2021, he worked as deputy director of the Western Conservation Foundation in the federal lands department. From 2017 to 2021, he served as a member of the Las Cruces City Council.

2022
Vasquez was the Democratic nominee for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 election. He won on November 8, 2022, by a margin of about 1,300 votes, defeating Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell. The district's boundaries were redrawn after the 2020 census, drawing the previously Republican-leaning district to be Democratic-leaning.

During the campaign, Vasquez deleted tweets attacking the oil and gas industry, rationalizing rioting in the summer of 2020, and comparing the Trump administration to the Ku Klux Klan.

COVID-19 policy
On January 31, 2023, Vasquez voted to require health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

On February 1, 2023, Vasquez voted against a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.

Energy
Vasquez supported President Joe Biden's freeze on oil and gas leases.

Syria
In 2023, Vasquez voted against H.Con.Res. 21, which would have ended U.S. troops' involvement in the American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war within 180 days.

2024 presidential nominee
On July 19, 2024, Vasquez called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election.

Caucus memberships

 * New Democrat Coalition
 * Congressional Hispanic Caucus
 * Southwest Caucus (co-founder and co-chair)

Committee assignments

 * Committee on Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology
 * Subcommittee on Forestry
 * Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
 * Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Readiness
 * Subcommittee on Strategic Forces