Vasquez attacks rival’s national spotlight, backlash follows

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez went on the offensive against Republican challenger Greg Cunningham after Cunningham used a nationally televised GOP convention speech to hammer crime, border security and fentanyl in New Mexico — accusing his opponent of abandoning New Mexicans to “kiss the ring” of President Donald Trump.

Cunningham, a retired Albuquerque police detective and Marine Corps veteran, spoke Thursday at the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, where he was among candidates from competitive congressional districts given a national platform. KOAT reported that Cunningham’s appearance underscored the growing national attention surrounding New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District race.

Vasquez responded with a video recorded from his truck.

“While New Mexicans are struggling to make ends meet, my opponent, @cunninghamfornm, is choosing to fly to Texas to stand on a stage and support President Trump and this extreme MAGA administration,” Vasquez wrote.

In the accompanying video, Vasquez contrasted Cunningham’s Dallas appearance with his own campaigning in southern New Mexico.

“I’m sitting in my truck heading to our campaign office to make some calls with some of our volunteers here in Las Cruces,” Vasquez said, adding that he had recently traveled through Silver City, Hatch, Deming and Las Cruces.

Then he turned his attention to Cunningham.

“So where’s my opponent today?” Vasquez asked. “Well, he’s in Dallas speaking at the Trumpapalooza. He’s kissing the ring, he’s cozying up with MAGA donors who are making millions in the Trump economy.”

Cunningham used stage to focus on New Mexico

Cunningham’s actual convention address, however, was heavily focused on New Mexico and his law-enforcement background.

He recounted serving in the Marine Corps during Desert Storm before joining the Albuquerque Police Department, where he said he worked patrol and narcotics and spent years undercover targeting gangs and cartels.

Cunningham then criticized Democratic leadership over crime, drugs and border security.

“Well, where has that gotten us?” Cunningham asked after noting Democrats control New Mexico’s governorship and Legislature and currently hold the state’s congressional delegation.

He also attacked Vasquez directly over his past rhetoric concerning policing and immigration enforcement.

“New Mexicans do not have to live this way,” Cunningham said. “Yes, the border can be closed. Illegal crossings can be stopped.”

The Dallas appearance was hardly accidental. Cunningham was specifically included among Republican nominees from competitive House districts featured at the convention, and national coverage singled out NM-02 as one of the races receiving attention.

Vasquez instead sought to turn the focus toward household expenses.

“Meanwhile in New Mexico folks here are digging deeper and deeper just to stay afloat, to buy a tank of gas, a gallon of milk, to pay for their prescriptions, to pay for their utility bills,” he said.

He opened the video by pointing out that national diesel prices had crossed $6 per gallon.

That claim is accurate. The national average exceeded $6 for the first time this week amid major global supply disruptions, including the conflict involving Iran and attacks on Russian refining infrastructure, according to Reuters.

The cost-of-living issue has also become politically difficult for the Trump administration and congressional Republicans, with Reuters reporting that high prices remain a major concern as the midterms approach.

Vasquez’s sharpest personal attack involved Trump’s recent social-media posts floating the name “New America” for New Mexico.

“Greg just stepped off the stage where just yesterday President Trump was openly mocking New Mexico and not a peep from Greg,” Vasquez said. “Pretty spineless if you ask me.”

Trump recently posted an altered image replacing “Mexico” with “America” in the state’s name, prompting widespread reactions from Democratic elected officials. Trump cannot unilaterally change New Mexico’s legal name; doing so would require changing the state Constitution.

Vasquez then took the argument further.

“This should give an idea to all New Mexicans of how Greg would govern in Congress,” he said. “For Donald Trump and for New America, not for the gente.”

“Or should I say for the people because I’m not sure Trump is going to let you speak Spanish in his New America,” Vasquez added.

That latter remark was political rhetoric; there has been no announced proposal to prohibit New Mexicans from speaking Spanish.

Vasquez’s post also drew a wave of criticism in the replies on X.

Some commenters simply wrote “As he should” in response to Cunningham attending the convention, while another posted “New America.” Others accused Vasquez of being responsible for New Mexico’s economic problems or dismissed his attack as a “dumb take.”

One user told Vasquez, “New Mexicans are struggling because of your leadership,” while another predicted, “you’re gonna lose.” Another mocked what the user described as Vasquez being “ratioed again.”

Social-media replies are not a scientific measure of voter sentiment and can be shaped by algorithms, activist accounts and national audiences. But the response showed that Vasquez’s attack did not go unanswered online.

The increasingly sharp rhetoric reflects the stakes in NM-02.

Vasquez and Cunningham are running in a district Trump carried in 2024 even as voters reelected Vasquez to Congress. Trump defeated Kamala Harris there 49.9%-48.1%, while Vasquez defeated Republican Yvette Herrell 52.1%-47.9%. The district is one of 23 Trump-won House seats currently represented by Democrats.

Cunningham is attempting to make the race about crime, policing, the border and Democratic control of New Mexico.

Vasquez, meanwhile, is increasingly framing Cunningham as an extension of Trump and arguing that economic costs should dominate the campaign.

After Cunningham took that argument to a national Republican audience in Dallas, Vasquez made clear he was not going to let the moment pass quietly.