Yvette Herrell
Yvette Herrell | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Congressional Relations | |
| Assumed office December 19, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Adrienne Wojciechowski |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Xochitl Torres Small |
| Succeeded by | Gabe Vasquez |
| Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from the 51st district | |
| In office January 18, 2011 – January 15, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Gloria Vaughn |
| Succeeded by | Rachel Black |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stella Yvette Herrell March 16, 1964 Ruidoso, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | ITT Technical Institute New Mexico State University |
| Signature | |
Stella Yvette Herrell (/iˈvɛt ˈhɛrəl/ ee-VETT HERR-əl; born March 16, 1964) is an American politician and realtor who served as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she served four terms as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for the 51st district from 2011 to 2019.
Herrell was the Republican nominee for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district in 2018, narrowly losing to Democrat Xochitl Torres Small. She was the Republican nominee for the 2nd district again in 2020, and defeated Torres Small in a rematch. She narrowly lost her bid for reelection in 2022 to Democratic nominee Gabe Vasquez, a former Las Cruces city councillor. In 2024, Herrell ran again for the seat, but lost again to Vasquez, losing 52% to 48%.
Herrell has marked many firsts: she is the first Republican Native woman elected to Congress, the first Cherokee woman, the third Native American woman, and the second Native woman from New Mexico elected to the House. She was the only Republican member of New Mexico's congressional delegation during the 117th Congress and the last Republican U.S Representative from the state.
In June 2025, Herrell was nominated by Donald Trump to be Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Congressional Relations.