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Candidates in the two most high-profile congressional races took in millions of dollars in the waning weeks of the 2024 election cycle, with the campaigns of both U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) edging out their opponents in fundraising.
New data provided by the campaigns to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on Tuesday revealed that between July 1 and Sept. 30, the campaign of Vasquez received $2,165,598.20 in campaign contributions, while his opponent, former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-NM-02), had $1,289,166.91 flowing into her campaign during that same period.
After spending $3,030,837.21, the Vasquez campaign entered October with a remaining cash balance of $1,836,778.76. Reports indicate that in that same period, Herrell spent $1,519,230.05, leaving her with $1,124,875.62 in her campaign war chest.
The latest numbers bring the totals raised by the Vasquez and Herrell campaigns this cycle to $6,190,937.59 and $3,710,790, respectively.
Vasquez and Herrell are locked in a contentious rematch of their 2022 race in the 2nd Congressional District, which reaches from west Albuquerque down and extends as far south as communities along the U.S. Southern border. It also contains a single precinct in Southwest Chaves County.
Two years ago, Vasquez unseated Herrell by 1,350 votes in one of the closest outcomes of that election. Both parties have eyed the seat as one of a handful of races that could determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
Congressional leaders have also come to New Mexico to campaign for the candidates. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) campaigned for Herrell in Las Cruces in August, and is scheduled to do the same in Carlsbad next Wednesday.
On Oct. 3, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08) visited Albuquerque in a show of support for Vasquez and the other two members of New Mexico's U.S. House delegation: U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01) and Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03).
U.S. Senate
The fundraising records also show that in the past three months, Heinrich's campaign raised more than twice as much as his Republican challenger, Nella Domenici.
Heinrich's campaign hauled in $2,352,404.70 in contributions since July and spent $4,283,312.39. As of Sept. 30, the two-term senator had a remaining balance of $2,826,618.79.
Within that same timeframe, reports indicate that the campaign of Domenici, a former financial executive and the daughter of the late former Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), raked in $1,154,249.99. After expending $2,880,484.77, Domenici ended the reporting period with a balance in her campaign account of $399,769.94.
Since declaring her candidacy in January, Domenici's principal campaign committee has brought in $4,777,524.72, compared to the $12,536,370.51 that Heinrich has received throughout the 2024 election cycle.
Districts 1 and 3
Less money flowed into the campaigns in New Mexico's two less competitive House races, where the Democrats hold a lopsided advantage in fundraising and remaining cash on hand.
The latest data showed Stansbury far ahead of Republican Steve Jones in campaign cash, with her third-quarter fundraising totaling $289,005.35 compared to Jones' $41,409.55, which included $21,175.08 in loans that Jones made to his campaign.
In her bid to hold onto her U.S. House seat, which extends from eastern Albuquerque down into north Roswell, Stansbury has outspent Jones, a retired energy executive from Ruidoso, over the last three months $355,672.87 to $83,636.35.
Stansbury entered the final weeks of the election with $260,584.72 left in her campaign war chest, while Jones' campaign is $41,578.33 in debt, according to FEC records.
In this election, Stansbury has seen $1,278,895.24 come into her campaign coffers, far more than the $135,596.01 that Jones has taken in. According to FEC records, Jones has loaned his campaign $114,737 since he launched his bid for Congress.
Leger Fernandez's war chest is also larger than that of her opponent, Republican Sharon Clahchischilliage. The latest data showed that in the last fundraising quarter, Leger Fernandez, a two-term member of the U.S. House from the 3rd Congressional District, received $326,080.46 between July and October and spent $386,056.36. She now has a remaining balance in her campaign account of $823,513.12.
The campaign of Clahchischilliage, a New Mexico Public Education Commissioner and resident of Shiprock, saw an infusion of $26,356.83 in the last three months and spent $33,268.28. Her campaign has $5,248.95 in cash on hand.
Leger Fernandez's campaign this election cycle has received $1.949,077.82 for her reelection bid, compared to $76,630.99 for Clahchischilliage.
The New Mexico 3rd Congressional District comprises most of the state north of Bernalillo County and extends down the east side of the state, reaching down into Hobbs. It also includes much of southern Chaves County, including Roswell.
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is encouraging immunizations for vulnerable populations in New Mexico during the peak season, which lasts through January, for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to a Wednesday press release.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs, with symptoms that make it difficult to distinguish the infection from the common cold or other respiratory viruses, such as the flu or COVID-19.
According to the NMDOH release, RSV immunizations are now available for older adults and pregnant people, and RSV antibody treatment is available for infants.
RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in New Mexico and the United States, according to the NMDOH release, and infants are particularly vulnerable to RSV during their first year.
"It's very exciting to have RSV vaccines added to the tools we have to stay healthy during the winter," said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for the NMDOH. "Getting immunized now will reduce the chances of having severe disease that could result in hospitalization or death."
There are two ways to protect infants from RSV, according to the NMDOH.
Maternal RSV vaccine ABRYSVO is recommended to people who are 32-to-36-weeks pregnant. Maternal antibodies protect newborns against RSV for approximately six months after birth.
Infants born during the October-March RSV season without protection from maternal vaccination should receive RSV antibody treatment (Nirsevimab or Beyfortus) within one week of birth, according to the NMDOH, and babies younger than eight months old whose mother did not get an RSV vaccine during pregnancy should get RSV antibody treatment. The treatment provides immediate protection against RSV and lasts at least five months, according to the NMDOH.
Nirsevimab is also recommended for children 8-19 months old who were born premature, with chronic lung disease, severely immunocompromised or diagnosed with severe cystic fibrosis. American Indians and Alaskan native infants are also recommended to receive Nirsevimab.
For high-risk children, the NMDOH recommends Nirsevimab should be administered immediately.
According the NMDOH, data from the last respiratory season shows that Nirsevimab was 80-90% effective in preventing babies from being hospitalized with RSV. No shortages of Nirsevimab are anticipated this year, according to the NMDOH.
Older adults are also vulnerable to RSV, and the RSV vaccine is also recommended for persons 75 years and older, and for persons 60 years and older with chronic medical conditions. Older adults can receive the RSV vaccine at any time, according to the NMDOH, and only one dose is currently recommended.
People who received an RSV vaccine in the past year do not need to get another one at this time.
RSV vaccines are offered in many locations, including healthcare provider offices, pharmacies and hospitals, according to the release. The NMDOH encourages those with health insurance to contact their healthcare provider or pharmacist about getting immunized against RSV. The NMDOH offers vaccinations for people without insurance or who are otherwise not able to get vaccinated.
Nirsevimab is covered by the federal Vaccines for Children program, so all children in New Mexico, regardless of insurance status, can receive it.
Anyone who needs help finding a vaccine or has questions about the vaccine may call the NMDOH Help Line at 1-833-796-8773.
