A video featuring Democratic Representative Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico has resurfaced in which he refers to his home state as "stolen land" and discusses racism in American society.

The video shows Vasquez, who represents a competitive congressional district, making statements about the historical acquisition of territory and the presence of racism in various aspects of American life. The timing of the video's circulation comes as Vasquez faces reelection in what is considered a battleground district.

Vasquez was first elected to Congress in 2022, flipping a seat that had been held by Republicans. His district in southern New Mexico is viewed as competitive, with both parties investing resources in the race.

The emergence of the video adds a new element to Vasquez's reelection campaign as he seeks to retain his seat in November. Political observers note that such statements could become campaign issues in a closely contested race.

Neither Vasquez's office nor his campaign team immediately responded to requests for comment about the video or the context in which the statements were made.