ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Democrats held on to political power in New Mexico with the successful reelection of U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and Congressman Gabe Vasquez, who won in a competitive House district. Nonetheless, support for President-elect Donald Trump emerged stronger, as Republicans gained additional legislative seats, signaling a notable shift in voter attitudes.
Historically, Democratic presidential contenders have triumphed in seven out of the last eight general elections in New Mexico. However, the outcomes from the recent election indicated that the state mirrored Trump’s national momentum. Trump, who previously lost New Mexico by around 8 percentage points in 2016 and nearly 11 points in 2020, narrowed that gap this year, making inroads in traditional Democratic areas along with Republican strongholds, based on the latest unofficial figures.
“This is a significant breakthrough for Republicans at the presidential level,” remarked Joe Monahan, a political columnist based in New Mexico, during the vote-counting process. He raised the question regarding the source of these newly gained votes. As the vote count approached 98% completion, it became evident that Trump had garnered support across nearly all of New Mexico’s 33 counties when compared to his previous performances in 2020. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, secured a majority in 13 counties.
Trump made a strategic visit to New Mexico shortly before the election, holding a rally in Albuquerque aimed primarily at appealing to Latino voters, an important demographic given that New Mexico has the highest percentage of Latino voters in the country. In contrast, Harris did not schedule a visit to the state following her nomination.
Isaiah Blas, a 25-year-old attendee at the rally, noted the enthusiasm among the crowd wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats, suggesting a possible political transformation within the state. “Many New Mexicans are frustrated with Democrats’ empty promises and the ongoing issues with crime and education. We’ve seen a succession of Democrats, but are we improving? Absolutely not,” he expressed.
Trump’s increased voter appeal was evident even in Democrat-dominated urban regions along the Rio Grande, including Doña Ana, Santa Fe, and Bernalillo counties. Concurrently, Republican candidates captured at least one seat in the state House and two in the Senate, effectively preventing a Democratic supermajority from taking hold.
In a noteworthy development, Democrats relinquished control of a recently redistricted Senate seat to a Republican candidate who had previously supported Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Jay Block, a Sandoval County Commissioner, claimed that seat after previously voting against certifying local election outcomes while raising doubts about election integrity. In addition, Gabriel Ramos, a Republican from Silver City, took over a Senate seat vacated by retiring Democrat Siah Correa Hemphill.
Ramos, who had originally held this seat as a Democrat but lost it in a primary in 2020 after opposing abortion legislation, returned amid heightened debates on reproductive rights following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Furthermore, Republican Rebecca Dow won back a seat in the state House, marking her return after an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2018.
Two races within the state House and Senate remained too close to call at the time of reporting— these were the only undecided legislative contests. Despite these changes, Democrats still maintain control of every statewide office, all three U.S. House positions, and the state Supreme Court.
Unofficial results indicated that Heinrich won his race by approximately 10 percentage points against Republican Nella Domenici, marking her first endeavor in public office as the daughter of former U.S. Senator Pete V. Domenici. Vasquez also solidified his position by winning reelection in a competitive border district against Republican Yvette Herrell, whom he narrowly defeated in 2022.
Herrell, now in her fourth consecutive Congressional campaign, focused on the majority-Latino district that extends from the U.S.-Mexico border to Albuquerque. Vasquez, a former city council member, emphasized his connection to the border area and highlighted his background as the U.S.-born son of Mexican immigrants. Following his victory, he declared his commitment to representing all constituents, irrespective of their political affiliations, in both English and Spanish, stating, “We did it, and now, it’s time to get back to work. Long live the Second District.”