Democratic Socialist Tom Wakely Announces Primary Challenge to Rep. Gabe Vasquez in NM-2

A progressive challenger has emerged in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, as Democratic Socialist Tom Wakely announced his intent to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez in the 2026 Democratic primary.

Wakely, a 72-year-old Air Force veteran and former union organizer now residing in Deming, filed a federal statement of candidacy last week. In previous runs, he unsuccessfully sought congressional seats in Texas, first as a Democrat in 2016 and later as a Green Party candidate in 2020. He relocated from San Antonio to southern New Mexico in 2021.

The 2nd District, which encompasses southern New Mexico—including communities like Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Carlsbad, and parts of Albuquerque—has been represented by Vasquez, a Las Cruces native, since he narrowly flipped the seat in 2022.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) has represented the district since 2023.

Wakely has been vocal in his criticisms of Vasquez, pointing to the incumbent’s recent vote to condemn socialism in the House, his stance on the conflict in Gaza, and what Wakely calls a lack of strong advocacy for universal health care. On his campaign website, Wakely positions himself as an economic populist focused on affordability issues, arguing that “centrist, pro-business Democrats like Rep. Gabe Vasquez” are part of the problem rather than the solution.

“I’m a 72-year-old man. I should be sitting around playing in my garden, but someone’s got to step up and challenge people like Gabe,” Wakely said in a recent interview.

Despite the district’s history as a competitive swing seat, Wakely believes there’s untapped support among non-voters and unregistered residents who align with progressive priorities like housing affordability and health care access.

Tom Wakely, a Democratic Socialist and former congressional candidate in Texas, now seeks the NM-2 seat.

The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with the general election following on November 3.

Vasquez’s campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment on the primary challenge. The district remains a key battleground, with Republicans also fielding multiple candidates in their primary ahead of the midterm elections.

This developing story highlights growing progressive energy within the Democratic Party in southern New Mexico and across the nstion, as voters prepare for another closely watched contest in one of the nation’s most competitive House districts.

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