Former state rep wins GOP bid for 2nd Congressional District

The New Mexico Republican Party hoped to unite behind former-State Rep. Yvette Herrell in her bid to take back the state’s 2nd Congressional District for the GOP, after Herrell decisively won the nomination in Tuesday’s primary election.

The Republican nominee will go on to the Nov. 3 General Election to challenge incumbent Democrat Xochitl Torres Small, who defeated Herrell to win the seat in 2018.

Herrell was declared the winner in Tuesday’s election with about 45 percent of the vote, while Roswell oil executive Claire Chase won 31 percent and Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys finished with 23 percent, per unofficial results.

Her support was widespread across the 2nd District, winning in all but two counties: Chase’s home counties of Eddy and Chaves.

Herrell won in Roosevelt County with 520 votes over Chase (267) and Mathys (248).

Chase and Herrell tied in Bernalillo County with 36 percent of the vote each.

The primary race often became heated as Chase and Herrell exchanged attack ads and questioned each other’s loyalty to U.S. President Donald Trump, who is running for re-election against Democrat and former-Vice President Joe Biden in November.

But upon declaring victory, Herrell’s opponents pledged their support immediately on election night, aiming to unseat Torres Small who Republicans criticized for failing to deliver on campaign promises to legislate as a moderate and for voting to impeach Trump.