DEMING – Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joined U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez in Deming Sunday morning for a campaign event addressing affordability and other issues affecting rural communities.
The September 13 event was held at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center and hosted by the Luna County Democratic Party and Laura Parra, the Democratic candidate for New Mexico House District 32.
During a question-and-answer portion of the event, Deming resident Andy Hernandez asked about affordability in rural communities.
Buttigieg described affordability as having two components: household costs and workers’ pay.
“Costs are too high, and your pay is too low,” Buttigieg said.
He argued that tariffs are costing an average household approximately $1,000 annually without producing a corresponding increase in manufacturing employment. Buttigieg also connected elevated diesel prices to a war that, he said, Americans did not ask for.
Turning to wages, Buttigieg noted that the federal minimum wage has not increased since 2009.
“These are things that we can fix,” he said.
Other questions during the Deming appearance reportedly addressed education, agriculture, water rights, healthcare, immigration and federal detention facilities.
Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, served as transportation secretary from 2021 until 2025. He visited Deming as part of a weekend of campaign appearances in the Southwest.
Following the Deming event, Buttigieg and Vasquez were scheduled to appear with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland at an “All for New Mexico” rally in Las Cruces.
Vasquez is seeking reelection in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. Parra is challenging Republican incumbent Jenifer Jones for the District 32 seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives.
By: John Krehbiel – Bravo Mic Communications News LLC – John@Bravomic.com
