Yvette Herrell

Stella Yvette Herrell[2] (/iˈvɛt ˈhɛrəl/ ee-VETT HERR-əl; born March 16, 1964) is an American politician, businesswoman, and real estate agent serving as the U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, she served four terms as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 51 from 2011 to 2019.[3][4]

Yvette Herrell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Mexico's 2nd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byXochitl Torres Small
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
from the 51st district
In office
January 18, 2011 – January 15, 2019
Preceded byGloria Vaughn
Succeeded byRachel Black
Personal details
Born
Stella Yvette Herrell

(1964-03-16) March 16, 1964[1]
Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationITT Technical Institute (GrCert)
Signature

Herrell was the Republican nominee for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district in the 2018 elections, losing to Democrat Xochitl Torres Small. She was the Republican nominee for the 2nd district again in 2020, defeating Torres Small.[5] She is the first Republican Native woman in Congress, the first Cherokee woman, the third Native American woman and the second Native woman from New Mexico elected to the House.[6]

Early life and education

Born in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Herrell is a member of the Cherokee Nation.[1][7] After attending Cloudcroft High School, she earned a legal secretary diploma from the ITT Technical Institute School of Business in Boise, Idaho.[8][9][10][11] After graduating from ITT, Herrell has worked as a realtor in Alamogordo, New Mexico.[12][13] She later worked as a real estate broker for Future Real Estate in Alamogordo.[14][15]

New Mexico House of Representatives
Herrell's portrait during her time in the New Mexico Legislature.

In 2010, Herrell challenged incumbent District 51 Republican Representative Gloria Vaughn in the June 1 Republican primary. Herrell won with 846 votes (54.2%),[16] and went on to win the November 2 general election with 3,077 votes (62.9%) against Democratic nominee Susan Medina.[17]

In 2012, Herrell was unopposed in both the June 5 Republican primary, which she won with 2,128 votes,[18] and the November 6 general election, which she won with 7,750 votes.[19]

U.S. House of Representatives

2018
Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico § District 2

In 2018, Herrell was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives, and was defeated in a close race by political newcomer and Democratic attorney Xochitl Torres Small. The results were close on election night, with Herrell in the lead at the end of the night and some New Mexico media organization projecting that she would win.[20] The next day, more ballots were counted, narrowing Herrell's lead, and media organizations rescinded their initial projections.[20] Absentee ballots made Torres Small the winner. Without offering evidence, Herrell alleged possible election fraud before conceding the race.[21][22][23][24]

A 2018 Associated Press review of Herrell's campaign finance disclosure records found that she had failed to disclose that her real estate company earned $440,000 in contracts with two state agencies over five years. Herrell said she had submitted all required paperwork and that the allegations against her represented "an attack on my moral character" orchestrated by one of her opponents in the Republican congressional primary.[25]

2020
Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in New Mexico § District 2
Main article: List of Native Americans in the United States Congress

Herrell was a candidate for the 2nd congressional district in the 2020 elections.[26] In the Republican primary, she faced businesswoman Claire Chase and businessman Chris Mathys.[27] Herrell won the primary with 45.6% of the vote and faced Torres Small in the November general election.[28]

Herrell won the November general election and took office on January 3, 2021.[29][30] She campaigned on a stronger southern U.S. border, supporting small businesses, and fighting overly tight government regulation.[4]

Tenure

Herrell's first action in Congress was to vote to object to counting Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes.[31][32]

Committee assignments[33]
  • Committee on Natural Resources
  • Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

2018
New Mexico's 2nd congressional district election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Xochitl Torres Small 100,570 50.9
Republican Yvette Herrell 97,031 49.1
Total votes 197,601 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

2020
New Mexico's 2nd congressional district election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Yvette Herrell 142,169 53.75
Democratic Xochitl Torres Small (incumbent) 122,314 46.25
Total votes 264,483 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

Political positions

During her campaign for the 2nd district in 2020, Herrell positioned herself as an ally of President Donald Trump.[35] During an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, she said, "DACA needs to be reformed." She also said she "will not support any legislation that will impede on our Second Amendment" and supports allowing concealed carry on school property.[36]

While a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2015, Herrell sponsored a bill that banned late-term abortion with exceptions for instances of sexual abuse, rape, or incest.[37] She has advocated for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act in favor of "free market solutions." Herrell also opposes the implementation of single-payer healthcare.[38] She has said that the federal government's role in public education should be limited.[39]

Herrell has said that she is supportive of legislation that improves water rights, private property rights, and the management of public lands.[40]

After Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Herrell voted not to impeach Trump.[41]

Personal life

Herrell is a Christian.[42]

See also

References
  1. "Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-NM) - State Representative for New Mexico, Republican, NM-H051". American Motorcyclist Association. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  2. "Yvette Herrell". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  3. "Representative Yvette Herrell (R)". Santa Fe, New Mexico: New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  4. Stabile, Angelica (November 9, 2020). "13 GOP women join the House, dominating congressional elections, making history". FOX News. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  5. Edmondson, Catie (November 4, 2020). "Yvette Herrell Ousts Xochitl Torres Small From New Mexico House Seat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  6. D'Ammassa, Algernon. "Give 'em Herrell: New Mexico's 2nd congressional district back in Republican hands". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  7. Olmstead, Mallory (November 6, 2018). "Two Native American Women Become First Elected to Congress". Slate.
  8. Candidate, The. "2nd Congressional District candidate Yvette Herrell". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  9. Candidate, The. "Q&A: Congressional District 2 Yvette Herrell". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  10. Barbati, Duane (July 12, 2017). "Yvette Herrell running for Congressional seat vacated by Pearce". Alamogordo Daily News. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  11. Devine, Jacqueline (October 20, 2016). "Incumbent Herrell looking to retain state District 51 seat". Alamogordo Daily News. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  12. "Yvette Herrell". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  13. "YVETTE HERRELL". New Mexico Home Search.com. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  14. "Yvette Herrell". LoopNet. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  15. "Yvette Herrell faces tough rematch in swing congressional race". Indian Country Today. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  16. "Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 1, 2010 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Santa Fe, New Mexico: Secretary of State of New Mexico. p. 6. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  17. "Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 2, 2010 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Santa Fe, New Mexico: Secretary of State of New Mexico. p. 5. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  18. "Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 5, 2012 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Santa Fe, New Mexico: Secretary of State of New Mexico. p. 8. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  19. "Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 6, 2012 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Santa Fe, New Mexico: Secretary of State of New Mexico. p. 8. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  20. "Republican Who Lost US House Race Seeks to Impound Ballots". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  21. D'Ammassa, Algernon (November 13, 2018). "On Fox, Herrell alleged 'documented complaints' about election. Then she went silent". Las Cruces Sun News. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. Boyd, Dan (January 7, 2019). "Herell not contesting loss in congressional race". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. McDevitt, Michael. "Yvette Herrell ad claims Democrats 'took' the election away from her in 2018". Las Cruces Sun-News. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  24. Board, the Editorial. "Editorial: Count. Every. Vote. Why is this concept so difficult, Republicans?". STLtoday.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  25. Contreras, Russell (April 6, 2018). "Records: New Mexico lawmaker didn't disclose state contracts". Associated Press. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  26. Panetta, Grace. "LIVE UPDATES: Watch the results of Republican primaries in New Mexico, including the high-stakes contest in the 2nd congressional district". Business Insider. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  27. "New Mexico Primary Election Results: Second Congressional District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  28. "Live: New Mexico State Primary Election Results 2020". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  29. "New Mexico Election Results: Second Congressional District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  30. McKay, Dan. "Herrell emerges as likely victor in 2nd Congressional District". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  31. "Roll Call 10, On Agreeing to the Objection". Clerk of the House of Representatives. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  32. "Roll Call 11, On Agreeing to the Objection". Clerk of the House of Representatives. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  33. "Herrell Receives Committee Assignments | Representative Yvette Herrell". herrell.house.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  34. "House Freedom Fund". www.housefreedomfund.com. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  35. Rupar, Aaron (November 4, 2020). "Yvette Herrell takes New Mexico House seat in pickup for Republicans". Vox. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  36. Candidate, The. "2nd Congressional District candidate Yvette Herrell". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  37. Baker, Deborah Baker. "House OKs late-term abortion ban". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  38. Democrats, New Mexico (August 8, 2020). "FACT CHECK: Yvette Herrell's First TV Ad Misleads Voters". New Mexico Democrats. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  39. Hedden, Adrian. "Yvette Herrell: Government must be limited to empower rural communities". Carlsbad Current-Argus. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  40. Turner, Scott Turner. "Herrell wants to be New Mexico's conservative voice in Congress". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  41. "How each member of the House voted on Trump's second impeachment". CNN. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  42. "Shared Values". YvetteHerrell.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Xochitl Torres Small		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Mexico's 2nd congressional district
2021–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Diana Harshbarger		 United States Representatives by seniority
398th		 Succeeded by
Ashley Hinson
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