Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), a second-term Democrat representing New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, has drawn renewed attention to his personal life following a report published this week. The report detailed a timeline involving a previous relationship that included a wedding-style ceremony but never resulted in a legal marriage, alongside inquiries into his current engagement. The congressman's campaign has confirmed his engagement to Nikki Santos, a former Biden administration appointee.
"The two participated in a private commitment ceremony but were never legally married and eventually separated." — Vasquez Campaign Spokesperson
According to the report, Vasquez listed Maria Fatima Batres as his fiancée on official paperwork in 2017 while serving on the Las Cruces City Council. The couple subsequently held a ceremony in September 2018 at a wedding venue in Tulum, Mexico. Friends and family reportedly attended the event, sharing photographs online under the hashtag “#OnCloudVasquez.” These photographs depicted Vasquez and Batres in wedding attire, posing with what appeared to be a marriage certificate.
However, public records of a legal marriage or subsequent divorce between Vasquez and Batres could not be identified. A spokesperson for Vasquez’s campaign clarified the nature of the event, stating, "The two participated in a private commitment ceremony but were never legally married and eventually separated." Family photographs posted online suggested the couple remained together through at least late 2019, but Batres was no longer present in family photographs posted by Vasquez’s mother by late 2020.
The report also identified Vasquez’s current fiancée as Nikki Santos, who has ties to Democratic organizations and previously served as a political appointee in the Biden administration. A campaign spokesperson confirmed that Vasquez is in a “loving, committed relationship with his partner and fiancée.” Campaign finance records cited in the report indicate Santos's involvement with Vasquez’s congressional campaign, showing reimbursements for a rental car and appearances in records related to a campaign dinner in Washington. Social media posts from late 2021 also showed Santos appearing alongside Vasquez and members of his family.
The timeline surrounding Santos’s personal life also attracted attention, particularly her divorce proceedings from her former husband, Joshua Pitre. Court records cited in the report revealed a dispute over the exact date of their separation. Santos initially listed December 22, 2021, while Pitre identified January 2, 2022. A divorce judgment was ultimately filed in November 2022, after both parties agreed on the later date.
Furthermore, the report examined Santos’s departure from the Aspen Institute, where she had worked with the Center for Native American Youth. Questions regarding an extended leave of absence taken by Santos in 2024 were noted. It is important to note that neither Representative Vasquez nor Nikki Santos has been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with these revelations.
Representative Vasquez is expected to seek re-election in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, a district that political analysts currently rate as leaning Democratic. The congressman’s campaign has not indicated that the attention surrounding his personal life will affect his plans for the upcoming election cycle. The recent report has brought aspects of his private life into the public discourse as he prepares for the next election cycle.
