Dem outraises GOP foes in key House race in N.M.
U.S. Rep. Torres Small raised $648,636 from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31
ALBUQUERQUE — Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, who is running for reelection in a New Mexico district being targeted by Republicans, outraised all of her GOP opponents in the last months of 2019, according to new campaign finance records.
Reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show the Las Cruces Democrat raised $648,636.52 from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 as Republicans attacked her for voting to impeach
President Donald Trump.
The fundraising figure is more than all three of the Republican hopefuls combined.
Records also show that Torres Small has around $2.3 million in cash on hand. Two years ago, she flipped the historic Republican-leaning seat along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Claire Chase, an oil executive from Roswell, raised $261,417 during the same period after a surge months before.
She reported having $588,519 in cash on hand.
Former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell reported raising $188,005 during the last months of 2019 and reported having $463,846 in cash on hand.
Chase and Herrell have each been claiming to be a stronger supporter of Trump than the other.
Torres Small defeated Herrell in 2018 by fewer than 3,000 votes.
Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys reported raising $1,835 during the same period. He previously loaned his campaign $250,000 and reported having $200,159 in cash on hand.
Torres Small, a granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, rarely mentioned Trump in the 2018 campaign and promised to uphold the region’s
“rural values.”
In Congress, Torres Small has attempted to portray herself as a moderate on issues around immigration and spending.
Republicans have challenged Torres Small over her voting record, despite the fact that she has voted with Republicans on some issues like minimum wage and trade. She has clashed with some of the more liberal members of Congress.
The sprawling district is home to a lucrative oil region but also has some of the most impoverished communities in the U.S. The district houses the highest percentage of Hispanic voters in the state with the highest percentage of Hispanic residents.