RIO RANCHO, N.M. – Democratic U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small and Republican challenger Yvette Herrell this week released dueling ads – with guns – aimed at appealing to rural voters in their swing, southern New Mexico district.
Torres Small unveiled a commercial where she is shown shooting various types of firearms in the desert while proclaiming, “this is how I unwind.” The ad shows her firing a 12-gauge Weatherby shotgun used to hunt dove and quail, a .270 Winchester rifle for deer hunting and “her favorite” .44 Magnum revolver.
“I’m Xochitl Torres Small. I haven’t been in Congress that long, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned: Washington doesn’t get us,” the Las Cruces Democrat says before unloading her 12-gauge.
It’s similar to her 2018 ad showing her shooting a rifle in an attempt to appeal to rural, conservative voters.
Herrell released an ad this week with Democratic Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace attacking Torres Small for voting for a gun control measure.
“Two years ago, Xochitl Torres Small promised to protect our Second Amendment rights. But she sold us out,” said Mace, who has clashed with Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over red flag laws.
The ad also shows Herrell shooting a handgun at a firing range.
