Mike Johnson scrambles to endorse Republican candidate in tight New Mexico House race

With less than 80 days to the November general election, Democrats and Republicans are gearing up for more intense campaigning as they seek to dominate not only the White House, but also both chambers of Congress.

All races are expected to be tight, and that's why House Speaker Mike Johnson wasted no time in heading to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to endorse former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, a Republican from the state's 2nd Congressional District.

"We came here to turn up the heat in this district," Johnson said in Herrell's new campaign office. "I am so excited about Yvette getting back in this battle. She served with us in Congress, we desperately need her back. She is a great spirit, she is a fighter, she is a small businesswoman and job creator."

Herrell, a Cherokee woman and the first Republican Native woman elected to Congress, is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, to whom she lost two years ago after the Democratic-controled state Legislature redrew her district all the way to Albuquerque.

During his visit to New Mexico, the Speaker highlighted the importance of winning that district in November as well as lifting up Herrell's career in public service.

"She has proven herself in the state Legislature and she did it in Congress as well. But we have a tough district here, right? The 2nd District of New Mexico is one of the big 'toss-up' districts in the country, but we're going to prove them wrong," Johnson said.

The race for New Mexico's 2nd District remains tight, considered a toss up with a minimal advantage by Democrats, according to the Washington Examiner. However, the contest has also garnered national attention as no incumbent has been able to win reelection to that seat in the last two election cycles.

Similarly, some of the most favorable polls for Republicans had the GOP two seats short of the 218 districts needed to control the House, according to Border Report.

Nevertheless, this hasn't stopped some GOP members, including Herrell, from remaining optimistic ahead of November.

Herrell acknowledged the speaker's endorsement on Wednesday, emphasizing the need to regain the "moral high ground."

"In our nation right now, they are burning flags, they're saying, 'Death to America!' How is that possible in a country that we have service members and vets who fought so hard to keep us free? This is where we are at," Herrell said.

As for Vasquez, he seems confident about his chances in the race.

"The future of our country is at stake," he told Border Report while attending a trade meeting in Sunland Park, Mexico. "In Chicago, Democrats are delivering a message of positivity of a future that is brighter for Americans... For me, it's a duty that I've chosen, it's the public service that I've entered. So, it's critically important that New Mexicans come out to vote and choose somebody who has put the work in and been able to deliver for this district, which I have."