PACs Spent $1.2 Million on New Mexico Attack Ads
Political action committees have launched aggressive advertising campaigns in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Elections
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Do you feel that negative attack ads accurately represent the candidates running in your district?
Political action committees have spent over $1.2 million on attack advertisements targeting candidates in New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District. The spending surge aims to influence voters in a region seen as critical to the balance of power in Congress.
Why it matters
The district is viewed as a pivotal battleground that could help decide which party holds the majority in Washington. Control of the House often hinges on narrow margins, making these specific seats highly competitive.
No Going Back PAC spent $274,000 on ads against Gabe Vasquez and $313,000 on mailers for Greg Cunningham, while CHC BOLD PAC spent over $655,000 attacking Cunningham. The district is critical to the balance of power in Congress, which currently requires three seat flips to change.
The players
Gabe Vasquez
He is the incumbent candidate who won his previous election in the district by a margin of four percentage points.
Greg Cunningham
He is the candidate for the 2nd Congressional District who received an endorsement from Donald Trump.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States who endorsed Greg Cunningham.
No Going Back PAC
This political action committee was established in 2026 to influence congressional elections.
CHC BOLD PAC
This is a political action committee that actively funds campaign advertisements in federal elections.
The details
The No Going Back PAC and CHC BOLD PAC funded the advertisements, which utilized recorded interviews and voting records to target opponents. In one instance, a recorded interview featured Greg Cunningham suggesting he would be an extremist if elected.
Timeline
The No Going Back PAC was created in 2026.
Attack ads flooded New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District throughout September 2026.
Political Context
Opponents argue that the heavy focus on negative advertising distracts from substantive policy debates regarding national legislation like the American Dream and Promise Act. Critics contend that these PAC-funded attacks exacerbate polarization rather than addressing the specific needs of local constituents.
Residents of the 2nd Congressional District will likely continue to face a high volume of political mailers and broadcast ads through election day. These developments directly influence the information available to voters as they weigh the legislative priorities of their candidates.
The takeaway
Voters should be aware that PAC-funded advertisements are often designed to highlight extreme soundbites rather than a candidate's full policy platform. Checking official voting records and candidate websites remains the best way to verify claims made in these attack ads.
Further reading
For additional context on the upcoming race, visit our Elections section.
Live Poll
Do you feel that negative attack ads accurately represent the candidates running in your district?
