Former Marine Vows First Bill Will Target Fentanyl Sentencing

Greg Cunningham plans to introduce a national crime bill as his first legislative act if he wins New Mexico's Second Congressional District.

The race is a focal point for national observers because the district elected a Republican president in 2024 while also sending Democrat Gabe Vasquez to Congress. Republicans view the seat as a key opportunity to regain control of the House.

Cunningham, a former Marine and Albuquerque Police officer from the South Valley, spoke with Nash Jones on NMPBS about how his background shapes his platform. He emphasized the need for legislative support of law enforcement officers. "[Law enforcement officers] have to know that you have their back," Cunningham said. He criticized Vasquez for saying he wants to hold ICE agents accountable, arguing that such language places officers at financial and legal risk for doing their jobs.

When asked about his relationship with the president, Cunningham pushed back on the label of a blind ally. "As a police officer, I raised my right hand as an oath to the citizens of New Mexico, and that's who my allegiance is to," he stated. He identified the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act as a primary area of disagreement, calling for streamlined applications, higher award amounts, and healthcare for those affected by environmental poisons.

On affordability, Cunningham pointed to New Mexico's oil and gas resources. He argued that every product on store shelves arrived via diesel fuel and that the state has the capability to provide stable prices. He blamed Democratic efforts to add red tape and shut down refineries for contributing to high costs.

Cunningham detailed the components of his proposed crime bill, which would revise the 1994 National Crime bill. He wants to adjust sentencing guidelines for fentanyl because overdose deaths in New Mexico are rising while the national trend moves in the opposite direction. The bill would also create a program placing retired police officers in middle and high schools to reduce the chance of shootings and build community bonds.

Voters in the Second District will decide the next occupant of the congressional seat in November 2026.