LAS CRUCES — U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s reelection campaign is attacking Republican challenger Greg Cunningham over his ties to a west side Albuquerque church, sharing a video that ties Cunningham’s decision to run for Congress to Legacy Church.
Vasquez posted the video Aug. 4 on Facebook and X, crediting it to Courier New Mexico, a progressive outlet that expanded into the state earlier this year. The video states that Cunningham “was inspired to run by Legacy Church, a MAGA extremist church that opposes reproductive freedom and LGBTQ rights.”
“That’s his choice,” Vasquez wrote in the post. “I’m running because I believe every New Mexican deserves affordable healthcare, good-paying jobs, public lands we can pass on to our kids, and the freedom to make their own decisions. That’s the choice in this election, New Mexico.”
The video cites Legacy Church’s statement of faith, which holds that marriage is between “a man and a woman,” and links Cunningham’s campaign launch to a speech at the church by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this year.
Cunningham, a former Marine, Albuquerque police officer and undercover detective, defended his faith in a statement to the Piñon Post.
“My wife Jennifer and I have built our life around faith, family and service. Gabe Vasquez and his friends are attacking me for my faith because they’re getting desperate. And every New Mexican can see right through it,” Cunningham said. “The truth is, Gabe isn’t just attacking me. He’s attacking every person of faith who wants to make their community a better place.”
The Courier video does not cite specific statements from Cunningham on LGBTQ issues or reproductive rights, instead drawing its conclusions from the church’s public statement of faith.
Courier New Mexico is part of Courier Newsroom, a national network of outlets that describes its journalism as “values-driven.” The network has drawn scrutiny from conservative critics over its funding structure, including reported financial backing tied to Democratic megadonor George Soros.
Vasquez, a Las Cruces Democrat, is seeking a third term representing New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers southern New Mexico and voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.
The race is considered one of the most competitive House contests in the country, with both national parties investing resources ahead of the November election.
