New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

Elections in New Mexico, 2020

• Election date: Nov. 3
• Registration deadline(s): Oct. 31 (in person); Oct. 6 (online; by mail)
• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Recount laws

• Early voting starts: Oct. 17
• Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 3 (received)
• Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots
• Voter ID: No ID
• Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Municipal

2022 → ← 2018
New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 10, 2020
Primary: June 2, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: Xochitl Torres Small (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting in New Mexico
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up Inside Elections: Toss-up Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
See also
New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd New Mexico elections, 2020 U.S. Congress elections, 2020 U.S. Senate elections, 2020 U.S. House elections, 2020 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSubmit

Yvette Herrell (R) defeated incumbent Xochitl Torres Small (D) and Steve Jones (I) in the general election for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District on November 3, 2020.

The race was one of 56 U.S. House rematches from 2018. In 2018, Torres Small defeated Herrell 51% to 49%. Steve Pearce (R) won re-election in 2016 against Merrie Soules (D) 62% to 37%. Before 2018, the district was last represented by a Democrat in 2011.

The 2nd District was one of 31 U.S. House districts that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election and a Democratic candidate won in the 2018 midterm elections. During the presidential election, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton (D) 50% to 40% in the 2nd District.

The outcome of this race affected partisan control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 117th Congress. All 435 seats in the House were up for election. At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232 to 198 majority over Republicans. The Libertarian Party had one seat. Four seats were vacant. Democrats defended 30 districts Donald Trump (R) won in 2016. Republicans defended five districts Hillary Clinton (D) won in 2016. Both the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee prioritized this race.

As of the 2010 redistricting cycle, New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District was located in the southern and western portions of the state and included Catron, Chaves, Cibola, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Sierra, and Socorro counties. Portions of Bernalillo, McKinley, Roosevelt, and Valencia counties were also included in the district.

Steve Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection Survey and participated in a Candidate Conversation. Click here to view his survey responses and here to view his Candidate Conversation video.

This race was one of 89 congressional races that were decided by 10 percent or less in 2020.

For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

This election was a battleground race. Other 2020 battlegrounds included:

Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020 Texas' 24th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary) United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2020

Post-election analysis

The table below compares the vote totals in the 2020 presidential election and 2020 U.S. House election for this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

Presidential and congressional election results, New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, 2020
Race	Presidential	U.S. House
Democratic candidate	43.1	46.3
Republican candidate	54.9	53.7
Difference	11.8	7.4

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

New Mexico modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee ballot applications were sent to all registered voters in the general election.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House New Mexico District 2

Yvette Herrell defeated incumbent Xochitl Torres Small and Steve Jones in the general election for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Yvette Herrell (R)	53.7	142,283
		Xochitl Torres Small (D)	46.3	122,546
		Steve Jones (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	117

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 264,946
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2

Incumbent Xochitl Torres Small advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Xochitl Torres Small	100.0	48,095

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 48,095
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2

Yvette Herrell defeated Claire Chase and Chris Mathys in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Yvette Herrell	44.7	26,968
		Claire Chase	31.5	19,017
		Chris Mathys	23.8	14,378

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 60,363
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Xochitl Torres Small

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

• U.S. House (Assumed office: 2019)

Biography:  Torres Small received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from the University of New Mexico. She worked as a field representative for Senator Tom Udall (D), a law clerk for the Honorable Robert C. Brack, and as an attorney specializing in environmental law, healthcare, and litigation.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Torres Small said she was a bipartisan legislator who worked with Democrats, Republicans, and President Donald Trump (R) to deliver for her constituents.

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Torres Small said she secured resources for small businesses and rural healthcare providers in response to the coronavirus. She said she supported Paycheck Protection Program loan transparency and investing in infrastructure projects to create jobs.

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Torres Small said she would work across the aisle to address issues like border policy, rural access to healthcare, and expanding economic opportunities for farmers and other New Mexicans.

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Show sources

Sources: Xochitl Torres Small's 2020 campaign website, "On the issues," accessed October 2, 2020; Albuquerque Journal, "Torres Small, Herrell make pitch to voters in Journal/KOAT debate," September 27, 2020; LinkedIn, "Xochitl Torres Small," accessed October 2, 2020; Xochitl Torres Small's 2020 campaign website, "Meet Xochitl," accessed October 2, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 in 2020.

Yvette Herrell

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

• New Mexico House of Representatives (2011-2018)
  

Biography:  Herrell graduated from ITT School of Business in Boise, Idaho, and attended New Mexico State University. Herrell's professional experience included working as a businessowner and realtor.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Herrell said she would support Donald Trump (R), and said Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) supported Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) agenda over her constituents’ interests.

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Herrell said her top priority was job creation. She said she would reduce regulations in the mining, energy, and agricultural industries, invest in public education and vocational training, and reduce taxes.

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Herrell said she would represent New Mexico values. She said she would support firearm ownership and oppose abortion.

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Show sources

Sources: Albuquerque Journal, "Torres Small, Herrell make pitch to voters in Journal/KOAT debate," September 27, 2020; Yvette Herrell's 2020 campaign website, "Shared Values," accessed October 2, 2020; Albuquerque Journal, "2nd Congressional District candidate Yvette Herrell," accessed May 31, 2020; Alamogordo Daily News, "Yvette Herrell running for Congressional seat vacated by Pearce," July 11, 2017  

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 in 2020.

Steve Jones

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "Formerly; management consultant for the energy industry worldwide, university accounting Instructor, partner in national CPA firm., producer of PBS weekly financial program and consultant to SBA for minority businesses. Awarded Soldier's Medal for Heroism as medic Staff Sgt.."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Hyper Political Partisanship has created gridlock.

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Socialism and liberal politics is threatening Medicare, Medicaid, and social security RIGHTS paid for by Retired and soon to be Retired Americans.

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Xenophobia and intolerance is dividing Americans especially as it relates to our Hispanic history, culture and citizens.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 in 2020.

Candidate Conversations

Moderated by journalist and political commentator Greta Van Susteren, Candidate Conversations is a virtual debate format that allows voters to easily get to know their candidates through a short video Q&A. Click below to watch the conversation for this race.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020: general election polls
Poll	Date	Torres Small	Herrell	Other	Margin of error	Sample size	Sponsor
Research and Polling Inc./The Albuquerque Journal	Oct. 23-29, 2020	46%	48%	5%	±4.9	403	--
Research and Polling Inc./The Albuquerque Journal	Aug. 26-Sept. 2, 2020	47%	45%	9%	±4.8	418	--

Campaign finance

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election. It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees. The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Xochitl Torres Small	Democratic Party	$8,479,218	$8,630,945	$16,718	As of December 31, 2020
Yvette Herrell	Republican Party	$2,868,122	$2,984,196	$54,544	As of December 31, 2020
Steve Jones	Independent	$9,405	$9,505	$-100	As of December 31, 2020
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+6, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 6 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District the 181st most Republican nationally.

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.14. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.14 points toward that party.

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 3, 2020	October 27, 2020	October 20, 2020	October 13, 2020
The Cook Political Report	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Tilt Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic	Lean Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites, if available.

• Yvette Herrell

Noteworthy endorsements
Endorsement	Torres Small (D)	Herrell (R)
Newspapers and editorials
Albuquerque Journal	✔
Elected officials
Mayor Benny Jasso (R)	✔
President Donald Trump (R)		✔
Individuals
Former Rep. Steve Pearce (R)		✔
Former Rep. Harry Teague (D)		✔
Organizations
U.S. Chamber of Commerce	✔

Timeline

2020

• October 2020 (click to collapse)

  October

  • Oct. 31, 2020: A poll of 403 likely voters conducted by Research and Polling Inc. for the Albuquerque Journal was released showing Torres Small at 46%, Herrell at 48%, and 5% registering other responses. The margin of error was ±4.9.

  • Oct. 19, 2020:
    • Mayor Benny Jasso (R) endorsed Torres Small.
    • The Albuquerque Journal endorsed Torres Small.

  • Oct. 16, 2020: Inside Elections shifted its rating of the race from Tilt Democratic to Toss-up.

• September 2020 (click to expand)

  September

  • Sept. 10, 2020: Herrell was endorsed by President Donald Trump (R).
  • Sept. 7, 2020: A poll of 418 likely voters conducted by Research and Polling Inc. for the Albuquerque Journal was released showing Torres Small at 47%, Herrell at 45%, and 9% other with a ±4.8 margin of error.
  • Sept. 1, 2020: Torres Small was endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Xochitl Torres Small

Supporting Torres Small

"Republican Mayor" - Torres Small campaign ad, released October 19, 2020

"Drug Prices" - Torres Small campaign ad, released September 25, 2020

"Turkey Hunt" - Torres Small campaign ad, released September 22, 2020

"Chile Process" - Torres Small campaign ad, released September 21, 2020

"Public Lands - Spanish" - Torres Small campaign ad, released September 9, 2020

"Public Lands" - Torres Small campaign ad, released September 9, 2020

"Accountable - English" - Torres Small campaign ad, released July 28, 2020

"Accountable - Spanish" - Torres Small campaign ad, released July 28, 2020

"Crisis - English" - Torres Small campaign ad, released July 14, 2020

"Crisis - Spanish" - Torres Small campaign ad, released July 14, 2020

• "In New Mexico, we’re fiercely independent but we aren’t afraid to work together..." - Torres Small campaign ad, released October 28, 2020
• "Cuando mi abuela vino a los Estados Unidos, vino en busca de una vida mejor, de una democracia en donde su voz fuera importante..." - Torres Small campaign ad, released October 27, 2020
• "Cumplir a Nuevo México significa cumplir con nuestra comunidad en estos tiempos difíciles." - Torres Small campaign ad, released October 13, 2020
• "La historia de mi familia es una historia Americana" - Torres Small campaign ad, released October 4, 2020

Yvette Herrell

Supporting Herrell

"Serve" - Herrell campaign ad, released October 21, 2020

"Harry Teague" - Herrell campaign ad, released October 5, 2020

"Values" - Herrell campaign ad, released September 5, 2020

"Join Us!" - Herrell campaign ad, released August 27, 2020

"Stand with you" - Herrell campaign ad, released August 7, 2020

"Rock Solid" - Herrell campaign ad, released April 24, 2020

"We are Patriots" - Herrell campaign ad, released April 3, 2020

"We are New Mexico" - Herrell campaign ad, released March 4, 2020

"Take it Back" - Herrell campaign ad, released February 11, 2020

Opposing Torres Small

"'Yvette Herrell for Congress' - President Trump" - Herrell campaign ad, released October 30, 2020

"Mom" - Herrell campaign ad, released September 19, 2020

"I don't like being lied to" - Herrell campaign ad, released August 22, 2020

Satellite group ads

Click "show" to the right to see satellite group ads.

Opposing Torres Small "Signed Up-Spanish" - National Republican Congressional Committee ad, released October 26, 2020 "Stop" - Congressional Leadership Fund ad, released October 23, 2020 "Xochitl Torres Small, LCV Backs XTS" - Congressional Leadership Fund ad, released September 30, 2020 "Signed Up" - National Republican Congressional Committee ad, released September 30, 2020 "Sold" - National Republican Congressional Committee ad, released September 22, 2020 Opposing Harrell "Egregious and Disingenuous" - Women Vote Project ad, released October 13, 2020 "We can't let Yvette Herrell turn New Mexico into the 'Land of Development" - League of Conservation Voters Victory Fund ad, released September 22, 2020

Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Xochitl Torres Small

Torres Small’s campaign website stated the following:

“	COVID-19 The most pressing issue facing New Mexico right now is the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on small businesses and communities across our state. It is critical that we’re finding ways to work together to stop the spread of COVID-19 while staying safe and healthy and supporting our small businesses and economy. In Congress, I’ve reached across the aisle to find those solutions, working with Democrats, Republicans, and President Trump to pass the CARES Act which provided Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for thousands of businesses across our state. And when those loans weren’t reaching our smallest small businesses fast enough, I called for increased transparency into the lending program to ensure that the businesses on New Mexico’s Main Streets were getting their fair share. I’ve also worked with Republicans to support our rural healthcare providers who are on the frontlines by fighting to ensure that they have enough testing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and supplies to effectively fight the spread of COVID-19. And through the passage of four relief packages, I’ve helped secure millions of dollars in relief funding for our rural hospitals giving them the support they needed to keep their doors open and to safely serve their community. There is still a long way to go in our battle against COVID-19, though, which is why I am keeping up the fight and advocating for policies that will allow us to recover faster. That starts with an infrastructure plan that puts Americans back to work helping to rebuild our roads and bridges and improving broadband and cell phone coverage in every corner of the country. It’s also why I’ve called for the creation of a task force that ensures our rural communities get their fair share and are not left behind in the COVID-19 recovery. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT We need to create an economic foundation that gives everyone a fair shot at the American Dream. For too long, we’ve had politicians in Washington who didn’t understand our local priorities. That is why in Congress, I stood up to my party and urged leadership to pass the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, an improvement on NAFTA negotiated by President Trump and Congressional leaders, that would help our state’s agricultural industry as well as its trade economy. It’s also why I’ve fought to protect our state’s energy industry from a complete ban on fracking because I know that if we stop fracking today we’ll have to close our schools tomorrow. It is critical for New Mexico’s future that we remain a net energy exporter. I have spent my career delivering for southern New Mexico. I fought to protect water for our farmers, to bring new funding and support to New Mexico State University—from STEM education to energy research—and to increase broadband throughout our rural communities. I also worked to protect our public lands because I know that our parks and public lands are not only what makes southern New Mexico so beautiful, but they also serve as a significant economic driver for our communities. I will continue to fight for living wages for hard working New Mexicans and work with stakeholders to provide incentives to attract businesses that offer good-paying jobs. I’ll support investment in 21st century infrastructure, from safe roads to broadband and cell phone service. I’ll find creative ways to streamline interaction with government agencies, so New Mexico businesses can operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. And I’ll continue to fight for funding for workforce training and development programs that connect K-12 students to local universities, education programs, and local businesses to prepare New Mexico’s students for the jobs of the future, right here at home. HEALTHCARE Everyone should have access to quality, affordable healtcare. I’ll always put southern New Mexicans first — and that’s exactly what I’ve done in Congress, taking on the pharmaceutical companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs, standing up for our veterans by working to fix the VA, and protecting and strengthening Medicare. We deserve an advocate who understands the unique healthcare needs of rural communities. I’m proud to have brought Democrats and Republicans together to introduce legislation to reduce the doctor shortage in rural America and improve telehealth services, because an expecting mother shouldn’t have to drive hours for every single prenatal appointment and veterans shouldn’t have to get on a bus in the middle of the night to get to a doctor’s appointment in Albuquerque the next day. And now, during this unprecedented time, it is critical that we provide support and relief to our rural hospitals that are on the frontline of this pandemic. That is why I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure 20% of all healthcare relief funding goes to our rural providers. It’s also why I’ve fought to ensure that rural providers have the testing, PPE, and resources they need to keep their communities safe and defeat COVID-19. IMMIGRATION Our immigration system is broken—politicians use it as a talking point instead of trying to solve the problem. I’m working with everyone to fix that. That’s why I brought Democrats and Republicans together to work on legislation to provide more funding, tools and technology to border patrol agents, and am fighting to ensure all vehicles crossing the border are scanned to crack down on smugglers, drug dealers, and human traffickers. By using New Mexican ideas, we are creating solutions that will help keep our southern New Mexico communities safe. Having grown up and worked along the border, I also know that a fundamental part of our border security is a clear and moral immigration system. We need a border that is both strong and vibrant. That’s why I was proud to vote for bipartisan legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for DREAMers. It’s also why I introduced legislation to expand and streamline access to work visas that would support and grow our agricultural workforce. VETERANS Our veterans have sacrificed to serve this country and defend our freedom. It is our duty to honor veterans by providing them with the comprehensive services they were promised and deserve. I am fighting for a VA that is fully funded, fully staffed, and accessible to veterans wherever they are. That means making sure all veterans have more accessible transportation options available to them to VA clinics or their preferred healthcare provider through an integrated veteran’s healthcare system. It means that the VA is actively reaching out to veterans to ensure that they are getting the services they need and expanding its telehealth services, which I’ve co-sponsored legislation to do. It also means ensuring that veterans have access to the most up-to-date and effective treatments, including for mental health conditions like PTSD and depression. Mental health treatment must be a priority if we are to reduce the staggering number of veteran suicides which is why I introduced legislation that would help to better identify veterans at risk of suicide so that they can get the care they need. It is critical we provide better transition services to service members as they return to civilian life and their communities. Our veterans need to understand the resources that are available to them, and we need to provide a full suite of services, including actively connecting veterans to job opportunities and programs that combat homelessness. EDUCATION Quality education will allow us to break the cycle of poverty and enhance our communities. As a product of Las Cruces Public Schools and the daughter of a teacher and National Education Association member, I will always be a strong advocate for public education and will keep fighting to ensure that every student—regardless of income, location, or background—has access to an excellent education. In Congress, I’m working to level the playing field because in southern New Mexico we face some unique challenges in providing strong public education to our rural and diverse communities. These unique challenges need targeted solutions. That’s why I’ve worked to address critical physical and digital infrastructure needs in our public education system by supporting measures that would invest in new schools to replace outdated ones and build out our broadband network bridging the digital divide. It’s also why I’ve fought to protect mandatory funding for Hispanic serving institutions (HIS) as well as to broaden the applicability of Pell grants so that they can be used for vocational training programs. Moving forward, I’ll continue to work to advocate for more federal investments so states can increase pay for teachers and reduce class sizes so every child has the chance to learn. Finally, I’ll invest in early childhood education and work toward universal access to Pre-K for all New Mexican families.	”
—Xochitl Torres Small’s campaign website (2020)

Yvette Herrell

Herrell’s campaign website stated the following:

“	A CHAMPION FOR NEW MEXICO’S HARDWORKING MIDDLE CLASS "Born and raised in New Mexico, I understand firsthand what our families are going through. We need a voice in Congress who will stand for every New Mexican, not the Washington elite. I will fight for our hardworking middle class, job creators, and traditions that make New Mexico great." - Yvette EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR Yvette proved that she is an effective and efficient legislator who doesn't back down to special interests. She has been a consistent voice for conservative, commonsense solutions that helped move New Mexico in the right direction. Focused on serving her district, Yvette prioritizes people over politics. She will continue to be a leader in Congress, always putting New Mexico first. This is one of many reasons Yvette is endorsed by the Freedom Caucus, Representatives Jim Jordan, Mark Meadows, and Andy Biggs. REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE As a former small business owner and entrepreneur, Yvette understands what it means to sign both sides of a paycheck. Yvette experienced firsthand how burdensome rules and regulations can stifle growth or how out-of-control government can make a job creator question their next steps. Born into a hardworking and business-minded family, Yvette has earned every dollar she has today. She knows that determined New Mexicans can accomplish anything when government gets out of the way. CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN Yvette is a lifelong Conservative Republican who has supported President Donald Trump from the beginning. CREATING OPPORTUNITY & JOBS CUT REGULATIONS Burdensome rules and regulations prevent growth, forcing job creators and industry to spend more on compliance than on creating new jobs. Yvette will be a champion for industry, eliminating unnecessary regulations and getting government out of the way. We must ensure mining, energy, and AG are protected from government overreach. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT New Mexico ranks last in public education, which is why we must take dramatic steps to ensure the workforce of tomorrow is ready to take the lead. From energy production to mining, our public education system should be training our students and producing skilled workers on day one. Yvette understands college isn't for everyone. We should offer students the opportunity to learn the trades and skills to enter the workforce directly from high school. Education must be under local control and as New Mexico's voice in Congress, Yvette will help bring resources into the state to expand apprenticeship programs and adult education opportunities. EXPAND RURAL CONNECTIVITY Yvette will push for expanded access to high speed internet in our rural communities so students and businesses can stay competitive. MIDDLE INCOME TAX CUT Rising costs of living and layers of local, county, state, and federal taxes are weighing heavy on the minds of everyday New Mexicans. Yvette understands what hardworking families are feeling. She will be their voice in Washington and fight to bring tax relief to New Mexicans. PROTECTING LIFE & LIBERTY PRO-LIFE With a consistent Pro-Life record in the New Mexico House of Representatives, Yvette will be a tireless advocate for the unborn in Congress. 100% Pro-Life, Yvette believes life starts at conception and will never waiver in her beliefs. PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT Yvette believes that we must protect every law-abiding American's right to self-protection and self-preservation. "Shall not be infringed", as written in the Second Amendment is not a suggestion, but a protection of a God given right. Hunting and the shooting sports are New Mexico traditions that should be protected and passed along to the next generation. We must teach our children about the importance of the Second Amendment and never allow Washington insiders to erode our rights. UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION The Constitution of the United States of America is not a living or changing document. Created by our Founding Fathers, the Constitution is the guidebook in which we base our government and protect our citizens. VOTER INTEGRITY We must have a system that protects our elections from interference and allows voters to feel confident that the results of an election are honest and correct. Yvette wants to make sure every vote cast is counted, that our elections are secure from hacking and computer error. Voter databases should be backed up offline, monitored and secured using best practices. Poll workers and poll watchers should be trained to ensure that voters can cast a vote and be confident in the results. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY As a Christian, Yvette understands faith is protected by the First Amendment. Every American should be able to practice their religion with the protection of the Constitution. It's time to bring God back into the conversation and protect our religious freedoms. SECURING AMERICA'S FUTURE FINISH THE WALL Keeping America safe includes securing the Southern border and finishing the wall. In addition to a physical border wall, the most advanced technology available should be utilized to keep the border secure. As a member of Congress, Yvette will support our Border Patrol and ICE agents, fighting for the funding they need. Strong borders are essential to our nation and to our State. They are essential to fighting terrorism, crime, and protecting American workers and families. STRENGTHEN OUR MILITARY America needs to continue investing in a robust and effective fighting force. From new technology to growing the ranks of our armed forces, Yvette will support new funding and proposals for expansion. With the creation of the Space Force, New Mexico is an ideal location for this new branch to grow. SUPPORT OUR VETERANS The men and women who answer the call to serve our nation, some sacrificing all for our freedom, must be taken care of when they return home. The families of service members must be included in healthcare and education benefits, because we must never forget their sacrifices and support they provide. Promises made to our Veterans have to be kept. Yvette will be a tireless advocate for Veterans, ensuring they have access to quality healthcare that is close to home. Mental healthcare is a necessary component when providing complete coverage. Veterans should have local options to consider when seeking healthcare. Veterans are a priority for Yvette and she will work to create new opportunities for the most vulnerable. Homeless Veterans have skills our communities need and Yvette will work to end Veteran homelessness. EXPAND THE MISSIONS The Second Congressional District has a vital role in keeping America safe and to the larger national security apparatus. Yvette understands the critical missions of the various military installations and will fight to keep them working in New Mexico. PROTECTING FARMERS & RANCHERS PEOPLE OVER POLITICS We are watching Washington politicians and special interests prioritize wolves and stringent environmentalist regulations before our hardworking New Mexico families, farmers, and ranchers. Yvette understands our priority - our families. SECURE THE BORDER Families, ranchers, and farmers across Southern New Mexico are feeling the affects of an open border. We must secure the border, finish the wall, and protect our land & families from further harm. Yvette will be a voice for the communities affected, fighting to get the job done and support President Trump's efforts to protect Americans. WORK PERMITS & IMMIGRATION Congress must take action to fix the immigration system and worker visa program. Migrant workers are important to our agricultural industries, we must ensure these programs are part of a comprehensive solution. We need to invest in expanding the immigration judicial system to allow for more judges to handle the increased cases at the border. TAX REFORM FOR LAND OWNERS New Mexico's farmers and ranchers should be able to pass down their land to the next generation without fear of overbearing tax burdens. PROTECT PRIVATE PROPERTY What is ours should be protected from the government or others who wish to strip us of our private property. Water rights and private land should be cherished and nurtured for generations to come by the families who have done so for decades - not the government. EXPANDING ENERGY PRODUCTION AMERICAN FIRST ENERGY President Trump has made American energy a priority. In Congress, Yvette will support the America First energy policies that have made our nation great. STOP THE GREEN NEW DEAL Radicals in Congress are pushing the dangerous "Green New Deal" -Yvette strongly opposes this effort and isn't afraid to fight against it. We must harness our American energy and continue growing our energy driven economy, prioritizing people over politics. INVEST IN ROADS As the Second Congressional District's voice in Congress, Yvette will seek funding and collaboration from state leaders to invest heavily into expanding the Permian Basin's road network. Yvette will work to ensure product and people can move safely throughout the Permian Basin. Yvette will also be an advocate for energy producers, protecting them from government overreach and frivolous infrastructure rules. SOLVE THE HOUSING CRISIS We want to see continued growth, we must overcome the logistical challenges that come with rapid expansion. Finding a commonsense and sustainable solution to the housing crisis will take government and private sector leadership working together. Yvette will work with all of the interested stakeholders to build communities capable of handling the ongoing energy expansion. REDUCE REGULATIONS We have to get government out of the way to ensure energy producers can continue to extract oil safely and efficiently. Yvette will work with energy producers and all interested stakeholders to take their voice to the halls of Congress. Energy jobs are the backbone for many New Mexico families and we must protect them for generations to come. REFORMING HEALTHCARE REDUCING THE COST New Mexico families need a break when it comes to the skyrocketing costs of healthcare. Congress must take action to cut costs by rooting out waste in the system, easing rules on access to generic medications, and protect patients from surprise costs. The Affordable Care Act increased costs and taxes on Americans seeking coverage while separating people from their trusted medical providers. Yvette supports repealing the ACA and replacing it with a free market based, patient centered healthcare system. Any new healthcare policy needs to contain protections for pre-existing conditions. EXPANDING RURAL CARE New Mexico is a rural state and Congress should act to protect the residents who reside outside of the large population centers. From building medical infrastructure to incentivizing medical professionals to practice in rural New Mexico, Yvette will bring practical solutions to Congress to ensure every New Mexican has access to care, close to home. STOPPING MEDICARE FOR ALL Nancy Pelosi and her allies in Congress want socialized, government run healthcare. From the insane price tag to the fact that Americans will lose access to their private insurance, doctors, and preventative care - Medicare for All will be devastating. Yvette will be a strong voice against the government takeover of healthcare. PROMISES MADE Veterans who have served this nation deserve the best healthcare available. They should have the choice on where to receive their care and the coverage should include preventative care and mental health needs. EXPAND MENTAL HEALTHCARE We must reduce the stigma around mental healthcare for children and adults. Yvette will work to ensure every American who needs help has access to mental health professionals.	”
—Yvette Herrell’s campaign website (2020)

District represented by a Democrat in 2020 and won by Donald Trump in 2016

See also: U.S. House districts represented by a Democrat in 2020 and won by Donald Trump in 2016

This district was one of 30 Democratic-held U.S. House districts up in 2020 that Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Most were expected to be among the House's most competitive elections in 2020.

2020 Democratic-held U.S. House districts won by Donald Trump in 2016
District	Incumbent	Ran in 2020?	2018 congressional margin	2016 presidential margin	2012 presidential margin
Arizona's 1st	Tom O'Halleran	Yes	Democrats+7.7	Trump+1.1	Romney+2.5
Georgia's 6th	Lucy McBath	Yes	Democrats+1.0	Trump+1.5	Romney+23.3
Illinois' 14th	Lauren Underwood	Yes	Democrats+5.0	Trump+3.9	Romney+10
Illinois' 17th	Cheri Bustos	Yes	Democrats+24.2	Trump+0.7	Obama+17
Iowa's 1st	Abby Finkenauer	Yes	Democrats+5.1	Trump+3.5	Obama+13.7
Iowa's 2nd	Dave Loebsack	Retired	Democrats+5.2	Trump+4.1	Obama+13.1
Iowa's 3rd	Cindy Axne	Yes	Democrats+2.2	Trump+3.5	Obama+4.2
Maine's 2nd	Jared Golden	Yes	Democrats+1.3	Trump+10.3	Obama+8.6
Michigan's 8th	Elissa Slotkin	Yes	Democrats+3.8	Trump+6.7	Romney+3.1
Michigan's 11th	Haley Stevens	Yes	Democrats+6.7	Trump+4.4	Romney+5.4
Minnesota's 2nd	Angie Craig	Yes	Democrats+5.5	Trump+1.2	Obama+0.1
Minnesota's 7th	Collin Peterson	Yes	Democrats+4.3	Trump+30.8	Romney+9.8
Nevada's 3rd	Susie Lee	Yes	Democrats+9.1	Trump+1.0	Obama+0.8
New Hampshire's 1st	Chris Pappas	Yes	Democrats+8.6	Trump+1.6	Obama+1.6
New Jersey's 3rd	Andrew Kim	Yes	Democrats+1.3	Trump+6.2	Obama+4.6
New Jersey's 5th	Josh Gottheimer	Yes	Democrats+13.7	Trump+1.1	Romney+3.0
New Jersey's 11th	Mikie Sherrill	Yes	Democrats+14.6	Trump+0.9	Romney+5.8
New Mexico's 2nd	Xochitl Torres Small	Yes	Democrats+1.9	Trump+10.2	Romney+6.8
New York's 11th	Max Rose	Yes	Democrats+6.5	Trump+9.8	Obama+4.3
New York's 18th	Sean Maloney	Yes	Democrats+10.9	Trump+1.9	Obama+4.3
New York's 19th	Antonio Delgado	Yes	Democrats+5.2	Trump+6.8	Obama+6.2
New York's 22nd	Anthony Brindisi	Yes	Democrats+1.8	Trump+15.5	Romney+0.4
Oklahoma's 5th	Kendra Horn	Yes	Democrats+1.4	Trump+13.4	Romney+18.4
Pennsylvania's 8th	Matt Cartwright	Yes	Democrats+9.3	Trump+9.6	Obama+11.9
Pennsylvania's 17th	Conor Lamb	Yes	Democrats+12.5	Trump+2.6	Romney+4.5
South Carolina's 1st	Joe Cunningham	Yes	Democrats+1.4	Trump+13.1	Romney+18.1
Utah's 4th	Ben McAdams	Yes	Democrats+0.3	Trump+6.7	Romney+37.0
Virginia's 2nd	Elaine Luria	Yes	Democrats+2.2	Trump+3.4	Romney+2.3
Virginia's 7th	Abigail Spanberger	Yes	Democrats+1.9	Trump+6.5	Romney+10.5
Wisconsin's 3rd	Ron Kind	Yes	Democrats+19.3	Trump+4.5	Obama+11
Source: Sabato's Crystal Ball and Daily Kos

Click here to see the five U.S. House districts represented by a Republican in 2020 and won by Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Three of 33 New Mexico counties—9 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County	Trump margin of victory in 2016	Obama margin of victory in 2012	Obama margin of victory in 2008
Colfax County, New Mexico	8.55%	2.24%	10.73%
Hidalgo County, New Mexico	6.73%	4.96%	2.92%
Valencia County, New Mexico	8.60%	2.47%	7.72%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won New Mexico with 48.3 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 40 percent. In presidential elections between 1912 and 2016, New Mexico voted Democratic 56 percent of the time and Republican 44 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, New Mexico voted Democratic four times. The state voted Republican in 2004.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in New Mexico. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 45 out of 70 state House districts in New Mexico with an average margin of victory of 29.5 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 45 out of 70 state House districts in New Mexico with an average margin of victory of 26.7 points. Clinton won nine districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.

In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 25 out of 70 state House districts in New Mexico with an average margin of victory of 24.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 25 out of 70 state House districts in New Mexico with an average margin of victory of 27 points. Trump won two districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

2016 presidential results by state House district
District	Obama	Romney	2012 Margin	Clinton	Trump	2016 Margin	Party Control
1	20.96%	75.79%	R+54.8	18.04%	72.51%	R+54.5	R
2	27.47%	69.17%	R+41.7	21.96%	67.15%	R+45.2	R
3	22.91%	73.48%	R+50.6	17.17%	73.66%	R+56.5	R
4	51.61%	45.33%	D+6.3	42.79%	42.74%	D+0.1	R
5	70.17%	26.83%	D+43.3	60.70%	24.05%	D+36.6	D
6	70.21%	27.48%	D+42.7	58.64%	28.48%	D+30.2	D
7	50.49%	44.11%	D+6.4	40.92%	45.72%	R+4.8	R
8	46.36%	48.66%	R+2.3	37.51%	49.60%	R+12.1	R
9	71.00%	26.44%	D+44.6	61.37%	24.12%	D+37.2	D
10	65.21%	30.46%	D+34.8	56.93%	31.21%	D+25.7	D
11	74.16%	20.74%	D+53.4	69.71%	18.46%	D+51.2	D
12	68.74%	26.63%	D+42.1	61.46%	27.69%	D+33.8	D
13	67.68%	27.95%	D+39.7	59.39%	27.06%	D+32.3	D
14	75.95%	20.09%	D+55.9	65.37%	23.23%	D+42.1	D
15	49.95%	45.35%	D+4.6	48.43%	38.84%	D+9.6	R
16	60.23%	35.40%	D+24.8	54.22%	33.06%	D+21.2	D
17	62.55%	32.61%	D+29.9	57.98%	29.63%	D+28.3	D
18	74.99%	17.57%	D+57.4	73.69%	13.64%	D+60.1	D
19	71.55%	22.91%	D+48.6	67.73%	20.05%	D+47.7	D
20	46.26%	48.57%	R+2.3	45.05%	41.13%	D+3.9	R
21	61.08%	33.19%	D+27.9	53.96%	31.12%	D+22.8	D
22	42.30%	51.77%	R+9.5	40.33%	46.60%	R+6.3	R
23	50.61%	44.70%	D+5.9	47.86%	39.71%	D+8.1	D
24	52.10%	42.11%	D+10	47.19%	36.79%	D+10.4	D
25	60.90%	33.31%	D+27.6	57.03%	28.81%	D+28.2	D
26	62.57%	33.00%	D+29.6	55.12%	32.19%	D+22.9	D
27	43.63%	51.56%	R+7.9	43.86%	42.63%	D+1.2	R
28	43.36%	51.02%	R+7.7	43.31%	42.27%	D+1	R
29	48.16%	47.12%	D+1	45.04%	41.24%	D+3.8	R
30	50.06%	44.08%	D+6	47.75%	37.01%	D+10.7	R
31	38.29%	57.90%	R+19.6	41.78%	45.91%	R+4.1	R
32	48.95%	47.93%	D+1	43.90%	47.34%	R+3.4	D
33	57.44%	38.34%	D+19.1	55.59%	32.01%	D+23.6	D
34	67.75%	30.86%	D+36.9	64.65%	28.49%	D+36.2	D
35	58.06%	38.71%	D+19.3	54.23%	34.26%	D+20	D
36	53.29%	43.51%	D+9.8	49.35%	39.28%	D+10.1	D
37	50.09%	46.98%	D+3.1	49.32%	39.69%	D+9.6	D
38	45.97%	50.34%	R+4.4	39.87%	49.90%	R+10	R
39	53.53%	43.60%	D+9.9	48.95%	41.86%	D+7.1	D
40	69.65%	27.03%	D+42.6	60.30%	28.99%	D+31.3	D
41	74.26%	22.15%	D+52.1	64.48%	23.77%	D+40.7	D
42	77.86%	18.20%	D+59.7	69.70%	18.34%	D+51.4	D
43	51.55%	42.52%	D+9	51.63%	31.90%	D+19.7	D
44	42.34%	53.33%	R+11	38.87%	48.14%	R+9.3	R
45	75.50%	20.49%	D+55	71.68%	19.09%	D+52.6	D
46	76.11%	19.64%	D+56.5	72.91%	17.80%	D+55.1	D
47	75.23%	21.12%	D+54.1	75.51%	16.95%	D+58.6	D
48	79.43%	16.14%	D+63.3	76.07%	15.07%	D+61	D
49	48.75%	46.04%	D+2.7	39.56%	48.03%	R+8.5	R
50	54.56%	40.49%	D+14.1	49.33%	40.67%	D+8.7	D
51	34.24%	62.18%	R+27.9	29.61%	60.13%	R+30.5	R
52	62.23%	35.17%	D+27.1	62.07%	29.79%	D+32.3	D
53	48.82%	48.52%	D+0.3	48.39%	41.93%	D+6.5	R
54	32.19%	64.92%	R+32.7	25.69%	66.62%	R+40.9	R
55	29.64%	67.48%	R+37.8	24.35%	67.91%	R+43.6	R
56	34.58%	61.37%	R+26.8	29.21%	61.10%	R+31.9	R
57	45.25%	50.34%	R+5.1	39.99%	46.81%	R+6.8	R
58	43.98%	52.91%	R+8.9	36.58%	53.06%	R+16.5	R
59	29.23%	67.78%	R+38.5	23.93%	67.65%	R+43.7	R
60	42.37%	52.23%	R+9.9	38.93%	47.35%	R+8.4	R
61	32.56%	65.02%	R+32.5	29.95%	62.63%	R+32.7	R
62	19.59%	78.35%	R+58.8	18.39%	74.53%	R+56.1	R
63	49.61%	47.24%	D+2.4	36.71%	51.26%	R+14.6	D
64	24.47%	72.92%	R+48.5	20.65%	70.74%	R+50.1	R
65	79.83%	16.71%	D+63.1	67.22%	16.91%	D+50.3	D
66	24.60%	72.24%	R+47.6	21.08%	69.94%	R+48.9	R
67	37.15%	59.71%	R+22.6	27.94%	62.43%	R+34.5	R
68	47.01%	48.56%	R+1.5	43.56%	42.91%	D+0.7	R
69	68.52%	28.07%	D+40.4	56.03%	29.07%	D+27	D
70	69.54%	26.69%	D+42.9	60.23%	28.91%	D+31.3	D
Total	52.99%	42.84%	D+10.1	48.26%	40.04%	D+8.2	-
Source: Daily Kos

Candidate ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for 2nd Congressional District candidates in New Mexico in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in New Mexico, click here.

Filing requirements, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
New Mexico	2nd Congressional District	Democratic	758	2% of votes cast for all the party's gubernatorial candidates in the last primary election (within the district)	N/A	N/A	2/4/2020	Source
New Mexico	2nd Congressional District	Republican	630	2% of votes cast for all the party's gubernatorial candidates in the last primary election (within the district)	N/A	N/A	2/4/2020	Source

District election history

2018

See also: New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House New Mexico District 2

Xochitl Torres Small defeated Yvette Herrell in the general election for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Xochitl Torres Small (D)	50.9	101,489
		Yvette Herrell (R)	49.1	97,767

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 199,256 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2

Xochitl Torres Small defeated Madeleine Hildebrandt in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Xochitl Torres Small	72.6	25,395
	Submit photo	Madeleine Hildebrandt	27.4	9,577

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 34,972
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Angel Pena (D)
• David Alcon (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2

Yvette Herrell defeated Monty Newman, Gavin Clarkson, and Clayburn Griffin in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Mexico District 2 on June 5, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Yvette Herrell	49.0	16,023
		Monty Newman	32.0	10,474
		Gavin Clarkson	12.4	4,060
		Clayburn Griffin	6.6	2,143

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 32,700
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Volpato (R)

2016

See also: New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Steve Pearce (R), who began serving in Congress in 2003, ran for re-election in 2016. He was the only Republican candidate to file and faced Merrie Soules, the only Democratic candidate to file, and Jack McGrann (R write-in) in the general election on November 8, 2016. No candidate faced a primary opponent in June.

U.S. House, New Mexico District 2 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Steve Pearce Incumbent	62.7%	143,514
	Democratic	Merrie Soules	37.2%	85,232
	N/A	Write-in	0%	70
Total Votes				228,816
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State

2014

See also: New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2014

The 2nd Congressional District of New Mexico held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Steve Pearce (R) defeated Roxanne Lara (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, New Mexico District 2 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Steve Pearce Incumbent	64.4%	95,209
	Democratic	Roxanne "Rocky" Lara	35.5%	52,499
	Write-in (R)	Jack A. McGrann (write-in)	0%	69
Total Votes				147,777
Source: New Mexico Secretary of State

State profile

See also: New Mexico and New Mexico elections, 2020

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of May 17, 2020.

Presidential voting pattern

• New Mexico voted for the Democratic candidate in six out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Congressional delegation

• Following the 2018 elections, both U.S. Senators from New Mexico were Democrats.
• All three of New Mexico's U.S. Representatives were Democrats.

State executives

• As of May 2020, Democrats held 20 and Republicans held three of New Mexico's 29 state executive offices. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
• New Mexico's governor was Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham.

State legislature

• Democrats controlled the New Mexico State Senate with a 26-16 majority.
• Democrats controlled the New Mexico House of Representatives with a 46-24 majority.

New Mexico Party Control: 1992-2025
Eighteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
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New Mexico quick stats

• Became a state in 1912
• 47th state admitted to the United States
• The country's first atomic bomb was developed and built in New Mexico.
• Members of the New Mexico State Senate: 42
• Members of the New Mexico House of Representatives: 70
• U.S. senators: 2
• U.S. representatives: 3

More New Mexico coverage on Ballotpedia:

• New Mexico elections, 2020
• Presidential voting trends in New Mexico
• United States congressional delegations from New Mexico
• Public policy in New Mexico
• Influencers in New Mexico
• Almanac of American Politics state profile
• More...

Demographic data for New Mexico
	New Mexico	U.S.
Total population:	2,080,328	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	121,298	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	73.2%	73.6%
Black/African American:	2.1%	12.6%
Asian:	1.4%	5.1%
Native American:	9.1%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.1%	0.2%
Two or more:	3.3%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	47.4%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	84.2%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	26.3%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$44,963	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	24.7%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in New Mexico. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico, 2020
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2020

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

New Mexico's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Martin Heinrich (D)

Ben Luján (D)

Representatives

District 1

Melanie Ann Stansbury (D)

District 2

Gabriel Vasquez (D)

District 3

Teresa Leger Fernandez (D)

Democratic Party (5)

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