New Mexico Police Union Rebukes Democrat for Using Its Logo on Taxpayer-Funded Mailer
The New Mexico Fraternal Order of Police condemned Rep. Gabe Vasquez after he placed the union’s emblem on a taxpayer-paid mailer promoting a bill the group supports but without endorsing his candidacy.
The New Mexico Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement criticizing Representative Gabe Vasquez for featuring the organization’s logo on a franked mailer that advertised his sponsored drone-countermeasure legislation. While the FOP affirmed its support for the bill, it clarified that it has not endorsed Vasquez and continues to back his Republican challenger, former Albuquerque officer Greg Cunningham. The union also reminded that Vasquez has a record of opposing police initiatives, citing his vote against a National Police Week resolution in May 2026.
In reply, Vasquez’s campaign manager Patricia Socarras Santiago emphasized the lawmaker’s commitment to public safety, noting the bill’s bipartisan backing and the allocation of more than $7 million for combating crime and drug trafficking. The dispute emerges amid Vasquez’s effort to reposition himself on policing issues after earlier calls to defund the police. The FOP reiterated its endorsement of Cunningham, describing him as a candidate who will protect law-enforcement officers.
Why it matters
Voters need to know when a candidate misuses a police union’s endorsement to avoid misleading campaign communications.
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