2026年6月1日 下午1:04 美东夏令时 / 福克斯新闻
坎宁安成为默认共和党候选人，此前唯一党内初选挑战者上月退选
作者：利奥·布里塞尼奥 福克斯新闻
发布时间：2026年6月1日 下午1:04 美东夏令时 | 更新时间：2026年6月1日 下午1:05 美东夏令时
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6395712256112
特朗普获胜的民主党选区迎来共和党新面孔：拉美裔选民或成共和党赢得权力平衡争夺战的关键
格雷格·坎宁安认为，拉美裔文化“本质上是保守的”。
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新墨西哥州一名国会候选人认为，他的拉美裔背景与军旅经历，正是帮助民主党传统选民转向共和党的关键，将在今年秋季选举中发挥作用。
“我能在这个层面与他们建立共鸣。他们需要有执法或军旅经历的人，而你也知道，这两样我都具备，”格雷格·坎宁安在谈及该州第二国会选区的拉美裔社区时说道。
“我决定参选的原因之一——也是我对此如此坚定的原因在于，拉美裔文化从本质上来说就是保守文化。”
坎宁安希望共和党能争取到拉美裔选民的支持，这是一个传统上倾向民主党的投票群体，此举延续了共和党多年来扭转少数族裔选民倾向的努力，尤其是在那些可能决定2026年国会权力平衡的边缘选区。
这一点在新墨西哥州第二国会选区尤为突出——该选区目前由民主党众议员加布·瓦斯克斯掌控。
该选区是2024年投票支持唐纳德·特朗普总统的13个选区之一，但最终仍选出了一名民主党众议员。《库克政治报告》显示，尽管该选区评级为民主党领先+0，但整体“倾向”民主党。
坎宁安在4月份唯一的初选对手退选后成为默认共和党候选人，他将成为2018年以来选民首次考虑的共和党新候选人。此前一直代表该党的前众议员伊维特·赫雷尔在2024年的选举中以4.2%的差距输给了瓦斯克斯。
坎宁安认为，他的背景非常适合该选区面临的挑战。
作为一名参加过战斗的海军陆战队侦察兵退伍军人，坎宁安后来加入了阿尔伯克基警察局，多年从事巡逻和禁毒工作，曾担任缉毒局特别探员，负责联邦毒品和卡特尔案件，之后还从事过卧底工作，随后转型进入私人安保行业。
特朗普暂时脱离主战场，进军蓝领州
“我很欣赏伊维特·赫雷尔，但我在各方面都是截然不同的人。我带给第二国会选区和这场竞选的，正是我们现在迫切需要的东西，”坎宁安说道。
坎宁安特别指出，他的背景将有助于解决居高不下的犯罪和毒品问题——尽管非法移民人数有所下降，但这些问题依然存在。
“非法入境的问题已经得到解决，但执法、人口贩运、毒品走私，所有这些挑战和我20年前在该地区工作时遇到的完全一样，什么都没有改变，”坎宁安说道。
但坎宁安表示，除了实用的知识和经验外，他希望能呼吁拉美裔社区的核心价值观。
“我们重视家庭，重视我们的文化，重视我们的信仰。所以我认为，当你抛开共和党或民主党、驴象之争的标签，从核心层面与人们对话时，你会问自己：‘你是谁？’”坎宁安说道。
众议院共和党人在面临艰难中期选举之战的同时，竞相争取关键投票群体
“我们想要的东西其实都一样，”他补充道。
根据美国人口普查局的数据，新墨西哥州的人口约有50%是拉美裔。
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和所有民主党票仓与竞争激烈的选区一样，坎宁安认为，竞选的一半挑战在于说服选民相信共和党能够拿下这个席位。
“我只需要说服[新墨西哥州第二国会选区的选民]，为什么我们能赢得这场选举，”坎宁安说道。
利奥·布里塞尼奥是福克斯新闻数字频道国会团队的政治记者。他此前曾任职于《世界杂志》。
Marine combat veteran bets big on Hispanic outreach in bid to flip Dem-held House seat
2026-06-01 1:04pm EDT / Fox News
Cunningham became the default GOP candidate after his lone primary challenger dropped out last month
By Leo Briceno Fox News
Published June 1, 2026 1:04pm EDT | Updated June 1, 2026 1:05pm EDT
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6395712256112
Fresh face for GOP in Trump-won Democratic district says Hispanic vote could lead to a Republican win in balance of power struggle
Greg Cunningham believes Hispanic culture is ‘conservative at its core.’
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A congressional candidate in New Mexico is betting that his Hispanic ties — and military background — are just the thing historically Democratic voters will need to go Republican in the fall.
“I connect with them on that level. They wanted somebody with law enforcement or military experience, which, you now know, I have both,” Greg Cunningham said, referring to the Hispanic community in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
“One of the reasons that I decided to run — that I feel so strongly about this is, you know, Hispanic culture is at its core a conservative culture.”
Cunningham’s hope that the GOP can win over the Hispanic vote, a historically Democratic voting bloc, continues longstanding efforts from Republicans to flip the script among minorities, especially in fringe districts that could decide the balance of power in 2026.
GOP congressional candidate Greg Cunningham, left, pictured next to a ‘Latinos for Trump’ sign, right.(Fox News; Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
That’s especially true in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District — currently held by Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M.
It’s one of thirteen that voted for President Donald Trump in 2024, but that sent a Democratic representative to Congress anyway. The Cook Political Report indicates the district “leans” Democratic, despite a D+0 rating.
Cunningham, who became the default GOP candidate after a lone primary challenger dropped out in April, will be the first new GOP candidate voters will consider since 2018. Former Rep. Yvette Herrell, who has been the candidate since then, last lost in 2024 by 4.2% to Vasquez.
Cunningham believes his background is uniquely suited to the challenges of the district.
A Marine reconnaissance veteran who served in combat, Cunningham joined the Albuquerque Police Department, spent years on patrol and narcotics, worked as a DEA task force officer on federal drug and cartel cases and later operated in undercover roles before transitioning into private security.
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DEA agents and police officers stand near a white command vehicle on a Los Angeles street after federal arrests related to drug trafficking on May 6, 2026.(Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)
“I love Yvette Herrell, but I am a different person in every way, shape, and form. And what I bring to CD2 and to this race is exactly what we need,” Cunningham said.
Specifically, Cunningham believes that his background will help address high levels of crime and narcotics that have persisted despite lowered levels of illegal immigration.
“The human invasion portion of that equation is solved. The law enforcement, human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, all of those challenges are the same exact challenges that I faced when I worked down there 20 years ago. Nothing has changed,” Cunningham said.
But more than his practical knowledge and experience, Cunningham said he hopes to appeal to values central to the Hispanic community.
“We value our families, we value our culture, we value our faith. And so, I think when you take Republican or Democrat, take the donkey or the elephant out of it, and you start speaking to people on a core level, who are you?” Cunningham said.
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The American flag and the New Mexico state flag fly side by side at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe, N.M.(Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
“We all want the very same things,” he added.
New Mexico is roughly 50% Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Like all Democratic strongholds and competitive districts, Cunningham believes half the battle will be convincing voters that Republicans can secure the seat in the first place.
“I just have to convince [New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District] why we can win this,” Cunningham said.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
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