Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid welcome Congressman Gabe Vasquez (D-New Mexico CD02) for a wide-ranging conversation about family, fishing, and forging political wins in a red-leaning, majority-Latino district. From adobe bricks to capitol halls, Rep. Vasquez shares the unlikely story of his rise from a Mexican-American farm family and part-time vacuum cleaner salesman to city councilor and the strategy behind how he became the first Democrat in over 50 years to hold his seat.
Tune in to hear:
- Borderland insights: What it’s like to represent a district larger than Pennsylvania—containing 108 miles of the U.S.–Mexico border.
- Conservation in Congress: How he brought Gila trout, Mexican gray wolves, and other conservation legislations to Washington.
- Campaign secrets: How fishing trips, localized Spanish, and a deeply rooted ground game helped Gabe flip a Republican seat twice.
- The working-class story: Why Latinos aren’t “left” or “right,” but the backbone of America’s workforce—and where Democrats go from here.
- Insider announcement: Chuck’s “Brown & Bougee” brunch at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, honoring journalists Sabrina Rodriguez and Adrian Carrasquillo!
Whether you’re a political junkie, conservation nerd, or just love a good fish tale, this episode delivers the real-life playbook of winning trust—and votes.
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Recorded April 23, 2025.
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Learn more about Rep. Gabe Vasquez:
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