Gabe Vasquez muzzles voters on X — then blames Elon Musk

As elected officials across New Mexico keep their social media channels open for public feedback, including sharp criticism, far-left Democrat U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of Las Cruces has chosen a different path: censorship.

Vasquez, the only member of New Mexico’s congressional delegation to disable public comments on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, is drawing fire for what critics call a clear attempt to dodge accountability and avoid tough questions. While fellow Democrats like Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Rep. Melanie Stansbury allow public engagement, despite the often rough-and-tumble nature of online discourse (for obvious reasons), Vasquez has instead hidden behind a selective, tightly controlled narrative.

Even Stansbury, who faced widespread backlash for holding a performative “This is not normal” sign during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in March, didn’t shut down public discourse. The moment, captured in a viral image showing Texas Rep. Lance Gooden snatching the sign away, drew more than 24,000 replies. Stansbury’s reaction? She doubled down on transparency.

“Free speech is a cornerstone of democracy and enshrined in our Constitution,” Stansbury said, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. “That is why I will always be an advocate for free speech, whether I agree with what is being said or not.”

In sharp contrast, Vasquez has taken the coward’s way out — hiding behind an arbitrary “policy” that claims his X account is “not a public forum.” His office blames Elon Musk, citing a decline in “monitoring and quality” since Musk acquired the platform. But instead of owning his own aversion to public scrutiny, Vasquez is using Musk as a convenient scapegoat — a move that reeks of political cowardice.

“The purpose of this [X account] is for Rep. Vasquez to communicate… It is not a public forum,” his social media policy reads. In other words: He talks, you listen. No replies allowed.

This heavy-handed approach is especially troubling given that Vasquez represents New Mexico’s only swing district and barely eked out victories in both of his races under suspicious circumstances. His refusal to engage transparently with constituents on one of the most widely used platforms in politics only deepens concerns about his fitness for office.

While his spokesperson claims he’s “talking to residents every day” about issues like rising costs and healthcare, the congressman’s actions online paint a different picture: one of an elected official more concerned with controlling his image than hearing from the people he represents. It is also implausible he is “talking to residents every day” unless he pledges to answer phones or have direct contact with New Mexicans who visit his office each and every day (unlikely), making his lack of openness on social media that much more opaque for voters.

By contrast, even far-left figures like lame duck Gov. Lujan Grisham maintain open comment sections. “The comments section isn’t always for the faint of heart,” her office acknowledged. “But the Governor is committed to transparency and accessibility.”

Apparently, Vasquez isn’t.

As he hides behind firewalls and PR spin, voters should be asking: What is Gabe Vasquez so afraid of? Why does he fear public input on a platform where others in his own party remain unfiltered and accessible?

If his policies are truly helping everyday New Mexicans, he shouldn’t need to muzzle dissent. But by silencing critics and blaming Elon Musk for his own lack of transparency, Vasquez is showing his true colors — and they’re anything but democratic.