The recent election in New Mexico saw Democrats maintaining control over the state with the reelection of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Congressman Gabe Vasquez in a House swing district. However, there was an expansion in support for President-elect Donald Trump as Republicans captured more legislative seats, reflecting a shift in voter sentiments. Despite Democratic presidential candidates historically winning in New Mexico, Trump managed to cut into the deficit in this election, gaining support in both historically Democratic counties and Republican strongholds.
Trump’s visit to New Mexico in the final days of the campaign, where he held a rally to court Latino voters, seemed to have paid off, as he gained support in all but three of New Mexico’s 33 counties in the recent election when compared to 2020. This was in contrast to Vice President Kamala Harris, who did not visit the state after her nomination. The shift towards voting for Trump was noticeable in Democratic-dominated cities along the Rio Grande corridor, including Doña Ana, Santa Fe, and Bernalillo counties.
Republican legislative candidates also made gains in the election, picking up at least one seat in the state House and two in the state Senate, preventing a Democratic supermajority. Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block of Rio Rancho won a newly redistricted state Senate seat, supporting Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In southwestern New Mexico, Republican Gabriel Ramos of Silver City won a Senate seat previously held by a retiring Democratic senator.
In addition to legislative races, Republican Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences unseated a Democrat to return to the state House. While two state House and Senate races remained undecided, Democrats continue to control every statewide office in New Mexico, all three U.S. House seats, and the state Supreme Court. Despite this, Republicans made significant gains in the recent election, impacting both legislative and congressional races in the state.
The results of the election showed Heinrich winning by roughly 10 percentage points over Republican Nella Domenici, while Vasquez secured reelection in New Mexico’s swing district along the U.S.-Mexico border in a close-fought rematch against Republican Yvette Herrell. Herrell waged her fourth consecutive campaign for Congress in the majority-Latino district, but Vasquez’s knowledge of the border region and its economy as the U.S.-born son of immigrants from Mexico seemed to resonate with voters.
Overall, the recent election in New Mexico highlighted a shift in voter sentiment, with Republicans making gains in legislative seats while Democrats maintained control in statewide offices and congressional seats. The impact of Trump’s campaign rally and increased support in the state demonstrated a changing political landscape in New Mexico, with implications for future elections and governance in the state.
