New Mexico Democrat Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) is facing growing backlash after admitting during a Tuesday town hall that Democrats are using the federal government shutdown as “leverage” in Washington — a remark critics call tone-deaf amid mounting financial pain for American families and unpaid federal workers.
Vasquez has previously stated that the ongoing shutdown “will harm millions of Americans” and listed potential consequences in his New Mexico district: “over 22,000 federal employees and an additional 22,000 active duty and reserve personnel … will be furloughed or forced to work without pay.”
“Even though we are in the minority in both the House and the Senate, it does require 60 votes in the Senate… without that leverage… the minority party would be stuck in the mud,” Vasquez said during the live event. The clip was posted online by multiple outlets, including the RNC Research account on X.
The shutdown has halted pay for TSA officers, Border Patrol agents, and other federal employees across New Mexico, while programs like SNAP (food assistance) and WIC face funding disruptions beginning on November 1. Vasquez nevertheless stood by his party’s tactics, echoing comments from House Democrat Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), who earlier conceded, “Of course there will be families that are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”
Following the backlash, Vasquez attempted to reframe the event in a post on X that blocked replies from the public, writing: “Thank you to the 12,000+ New Mexicans who tuned into my tele-town hall on Tuesday. I work for you, and I’ll always make sure your voice is heard in Washington, regardless of who you voted for.” Critics quickly noted the irony of disabling comments while claiming to listen to constituents.
Vasquez, who narrowly won his seat in 2022, has earned a reputation as one of the most left-wing members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation. Since taking office, he has repeatedly sided with progressive leadership, opposing pro-domestic energy measures and supporting expansive environmental and immigration policies that have drawn ire in his oil-producing, working-class district.
According to the American Energy Alliance, Vasquez has voted against bills that would increase domestic oil and gas production and reduce reliance on foreign energy. He has backed legislation aligned with the Green New Deal framework and previously joined activists calling for stricter environmental regulations — positions that clash with the needs of the Permian Basin communities he represents.
Heritage Action’s legislative scorecard lists Vasquez’s pro-energy rating at just 11 percent, placing him among the most anti-development members of Congress. This comes as New Mexico’s Second District is one of the largest oil producers in the country.
Political observers say Vasquez’s “leverage” remark may become a defining issue as he faces a difficult re-election campaign in 2026. Republicans have already signaled plans to highlight the comment in ads across southern New Mexico, portraying him as part of a Democratic establishment willing to use Americans’ financial suffering for political gain.
With thousands of New Mexicans missing paychecks and the state’s energy industry struggling under heavy regulation, Vasquez’s words are likely to deepen the perception that he is more aligned with Washington progressives than the people he represents.
local radio 770 kkob news room plays melanie stansberry statements condemning the shut down. 770 kkob has NEVER told the listeners that the democrats voted 12 times to keep the govt shut down. that our US Senators voted to keep it shut down every time. now 770 wont tell us that yesterday the dems voted NOT to pay federal employees. its a garbage news room . why would the management of the station permit this ? because they are democrats. the manager at 770 also runs a chain of weed stores in the metro. what a joke.
Give a guy enough rope and he will eventually hxxg himself. Does it matter to those who voted for him? Probably not because our bought media will back him to the end.
pathetic little weasel.
It is a disgrace that the Dems are using the lives and future of New Mexico families as pawns in their ideological war. They claim it is to better healthcare. If what they want to do is so great then it should be able to stand on its own. I have called out to both Dem Senators and my CD1 Rep to pass the funding bill as is and present their own stand alone bill for the healthcare. If that bill is worth it then it will pass. They don’t do this because they know it can’t stand the light of day on its own. It has to be buried in a better bill like the current funding bill.
It’s a sad state of affairs that the Democratic Party is more concerned about their 2026 elections and their left liberal woke agenda than protecting the men and women who guard our Nation’s borders, TSA and air traffic controllers and so many more affected by this egotistical act of a shutdown.
The bottom line is that the trillion dollar additional monies would facilitate the undocumented immigrants to the health care system. I don’t want my tax dollars going to undocumented immigrants. I don’t want an additional trillions of dollars added to the nation’s debt.
The health care system is broken and needs to be restructured by both parties in order to become more affordable and effective.
Let’s be honest with what is obvious!!!! Trump deranged syndrome. The liberal new media has been an accessory to this syndrome by not telling the whole truth.
Like FBI director said “ follow the money”.
“ What is truth”?…It ….the truth, asks for nothing but to be known in order to teach what it is.
Vasquez blew it when he said the quiet part out loud.
What is actually happening? I worked at Sandia and retired from Los Alamos National Labs. They occasionally had reductions in force (RIF). Nevertheless, people were given options. I wonder how this is truly playing out.
As far as TSA is concerned, I would like to see them disbanded and gotten rid of. They are all form with no content. They are fallout from 911. See Tucker Carlson’s excellent analysis of that event and the rescinding of freedom of speech and other liberties we took for granted. Surely the government, in its infinite wisdom, could come up with some other jobs that might actually mean something for the present TSA employees. DOGE didn’t do a very good job in my opinion.
” Leveraging?” You mean blackmail.
The RNC needs to have that Vasquez sound bite on a continuous loop.
We will never win in this State of Democrat rule. Especially, when the NM legislature passed the corrupt redistricting giving Democrats advantage. Vasquez district is now in the South Valley (Albuquerque) where most democrats live; who will never change their mind and vote for democrats. We can’t win unless someone can win in the South Valley (Albuquerque).
The subsidies were in place to cover up the true cost of Obamacare (Affordable Care Act). It’s the healthcare subsidies that are in place and still in place because of Covid. We need to end it and I believe that is what Congress is trying to do. We can’t just keep saying yes to spending on something that is no longer a threat.
Now, how can we as a collective group get the word out (truth) about the real reason why the Democrats will not sign the bill.
With this Vasquez sound bite, the Republicans now have.”leverage” over Vasquez..
He wants us to suffer while he continues to receive his paycheck. What does he really care about. The constitution guarantees his income but he won’t guarantee the rest of us from suffering. I wrote him, Heinrich, and Lujan about their no vote while stealing funding for themselves. I have not had a response from any of them.
VOTE HIM OUT! HE IS NOT FOR ANY AMERICAN!