Former Republican Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, the last Republican elected to federal office in New Mexico, has endorsed Greg Cunningham, a decorated Marine Corps combat veteran and retired Albuquerque police detective, for Congress in New Mexico’s Second Congressional District — setting up what could become one of the most closely watched races in the nation.
Herrell, who represented the district from 2021 to 2023, called Cunningham a “rock-solid conservative” with the leadership, grit, and integrity to win back the seat currently held by far-left Democrat Gabe Vasquez, one of President Joe Biden’s most loyal allies in the House.
“Greg Cunningham is a decorated Marine Corps combat veteran who put his life on the line for our country and then served New Mexico on the streets of Albuquerque for over two decades as a police officer and detective,” Herrell said in a statement. “He is a rock-solid conservative who supports President Trump’s agenda, and I am extremely proud to endorse him for Congress in New Mexico’s Second District. I know Greg will serve our district with the same honor, determination, and integrity he has displayed throughout his life.”
Cunningham, who announced his campaign earlier this year, said he was “deeply honored” to have Herrell’s support. “Her historic victory in 2020 was an inspiration to all New Mexico conservatives, and she served our district superbly during her time in office,” Cunningham said. “I will strive to live up to the example set by Yvette and thank her for her endorsement and her ongoing service to our state and nation.”
Cunningham’s background reads like a blueprint for leadership. Born and raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley, he graduated from St. Mary’s and Menaul schools before attending the University of Albuquerque. After college, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he earned recognition as a Recon Marine and received the Combat Action Ribbon for his service during Operation Desert Storm. He also earned a Meritorious Mast Award for exceptional conduct in combat.
Following his military service, Cunningham spent more than two decades with the Albuquerque Police Department, where he worked in field services, special investigations, and narcotics enforcement. He was named Uniformed Officer of the Month and later Detective of the Month for his work with the DEA’s Special Investigations Division. He also served on the Region 1 Narcotics Task Force with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department.
After retiring from law enforcement, Cunningham launched a private security firm, using his expertise to protect New Mexico families and businesses. In recent election cycles, he ran for the New Mexico House of Representatives, outperforming top-of-the-ticket Republicans in both 2022 and 2024 — a sign of his strong appeal with grassroots conservatives.
Cunningham, who is married to his wife Jennifer and has six children and nine grandchildren, says he is running to restore integrity, secure the border, support law enforcement, and protect New Mexico’s conservative values.
If Cunningham wins the GOP primary, he will face incumbent Democrat Gabe Vasquez, a far-left progressive who has repeatedly voted in lockstep with the Biden administration on open-border policies, reckless spending, and radical energy restrictions that have harmed New Mexico’s oil and gas economy.
Republicans are eyeing NM-2 as a top pickup opportunity in 2026, and with Herrell’s early endorsement, Cunningham’s campaign is already gaining serious momentum among conservatives eager to flip the seat back red.
We need more like him! Unfortunately I live in CD1 and cannot vote for him. Good luck! We need someone like him to run against our resident communist Stansbury.
Wishing I was in CD2. But gerrymandering put me in CD3. Wishing the best for this man!
Mr Cunningham wont get any crossover votes from democrats. dems dont vote for veterans or ex cops. ie Steve Pearce, Sheriff Manny Gonzales, and Louie Sanchez for Abq Mayor. If you are a Patriot, the democrat party wants NOTHING to do with you. they prefer community organizers and those that never had a real job. subverives. activists. social justice flakes. Harvard diploma or UNM Law Grad also a plus to prove your stupidity to the dem voter.
I’ve heard some pundits consider NM a swing state for the ’26 election.
Let’s make it so.
This is good news. Maybe we can get Gabby Gabe out of his comfort zone and get something done for NM instead of pandering to the demoRats in the Round House.
Thank you Yvette for this huge endorsement, and thank you for your past service in the House.
I have been a friend and supporter of Yvette Herrell and trust her judgement and endorsement of Greg Cunningham. He will have our vote!
Cunningham by his bio should be the guy to vote for. But the truth is I would vote for Ronald McDonald if he was a conservative, at least he owns a business. ;). But seriously, he needs to get out, this is the first I have heard of him, I live in a community of conservatives but gerrymandering has made us a back up for the democrat votes. No seriously, many folks voted for Trump, but they did not think that they should vote for a conservative to support Trump. Good folks with little time to listen to real news so they vote like their parents. Come to Chaparral and talk to the water company, as there is a community meeting every month.
Thank you Yvette for endorsing Cunningham; he’s got my vote. I wish you were running again; your election was stolen from you. Democraps’ mentality is exactly what the word genocide was created for.
I have read that dominion voting machines have been purchased by a conservative Republican and vows to have the machine stand independently from foreign connections and will be reprogrammed to be unable to change votes. I pray this is true and the machines used in Bernalillo County will be fixed and the cheating will be earased.