Businessman hopes to beat Torres Small

ALBUQUERQUE — A Las Cruces businessman has filed papers to seek the Republican nomination for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, hoping to unseat freshman Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small in 2020.

Chris Mathys, a U.S. Army veteran, joins former state lawmaker Yvette Herrell in a primary that will likely attract a number of Republican candidates.

Torres Small defeated Herrell in 2018 by fewer than 3,000 votes to flip a traditionally Republicanleaning district that sits along to U.S.-Mexico border.

The sprawling district is home to a lucrative oil region but also encompasses some of the poorest communities in the country. The district houses the highest percentage of Hispanic voters in a state with the highest percentage of Hispanic residents.

Mathys, 61, said he wants to bring the seat back under Republican control and believes he’s the best person to challenge Torres Small in the general election.

“She’s not sincere,” said Mathys, referring to Torres Small. “She says she for border security but then won’t support President [Donald] Trump on the border wall.”

Since the election, Torres Small has tried to position herself as a moderate Democrat on border issues and gun control. She has appeared on Fox News a number of times and made another appearance on Tuesday which she called on both parties to come together for border solutions.

If he wins the GOP nomination, Mathys promised to debate Torres Small in public forums.

Herrell faced criticism after turning down all debate invitations in 2018 and dodging many reporters during the campaign. She repeatedly ignored interview requests from the Associated Press.

The Federal Election Commission website shows that Chris Mathys filed papers on Feb. 4 to run for Congress. He ran unsuccessfully for the Public Regulation Commission last year.