Torres Small congratulates Herrell after being unseated in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District
COMPLETE RESULTS: Click here for full election results
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- In one of the country's most hotly contested U.S. House races, Republican challenger Yvette Herrell won by roughly 20,000 votes late Tuesday night, as the New Mexico Secretary of State said only 2,000 absentee ballots remained to be counted.
Incumbent Democrat Xochitl Torres Small and Herrell had faced off in a heated rematch of 2018 in southern New Mexico's vast 2nd Congressional District.
On Wednesday morning, Torres Small released a video message you can view below that congratulated Herrell on her victory.
“It is the honor of my life to be elected to serve New Mexico’s Second Congressional District," Herrell said in a statement to ABC-7 early Wednesday after being declared the victor. "My commitment to each citizen of our district is that I will serve each of them with integrity as we work together to rebuild our economy and protect the values that make America great."
Two years ago, Torres Small had won the swing district by less than 4,000 votes. Herrell prematurely declared victory on Election Night as the Doña Ana County absentee ballot board continued to open mail-in ballots in the days to come.
President Trump had endorsed Herrell this fall, while Torres Small landed the endorsement of the Republican mayor of Deming.
Both women launched dueling gun ads in attempts to appeal to rural and conservative voters in southern New Mexico.
New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District is one of the poorest in the country with among the highest percentages of Hispanic voters.
