GOP's Yvette Herrell unseats Torres Small in New Mexico rematch

For Republican Yvette Herrell, the second time was a charm. Herrell, a former New Mexico state legislator, defeated Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) on Tuesday, reclaiming a seat for the Republicans in one of the nation’s most competitive districts. The Associated Press called the race for the Republican incumbent at 2:13 a.m. EST. The race was a rematch of 2018, when Torres Small had squeaked out a victory over Herrell by fewer than 3,800 votes, and Republicans had fought hard to retake the seat this time around. The region is a lucrative hub for the oil and gas industries, which are under fire from Democrats — including Joe Biden — who are seeking a shift to green energy. And Herrell's campaign hinged on tying Torres Small to both Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), a San Francisco liberal who remains toxic in conservative parts of the country. Torres Small, who soon turns 36, sought to fend off suggestions that she's a rubber stamp for her party, pointing to clashes with the liberal wing and rejecting Herrell's accusations that she was hostile to fossil fuels. The incumbent also enjoyed a vast money advantage, outraising Herrell $7.5 million to $2.5 million over the cycle...MORE