Herrell, Yvette, 1964-

<p>Stella Yvette Herrell (/iˈvɛt ˈhɛrəl/ ee-VETT HERR-əl; born March 16, 1964) is an American politician and realtor serving as the U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 2nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, she served four terms as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 51 from 2011 to 2019.</p>

<p>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 is the first Republican Native woman in Congress, the first Cherokee woman, the third Native American woman and the second Native woman from New Mexico elected to the House. She is also the only Republican member of New Mexico's congressional delegation.</p>

<p>Born in Ruidoso, New Mexico, Herrell is a member of the Cherokee Nation. After attending Cloudcroft High School, she earned a legal secretary diploma from the ITT Technical Institute School of Business in Boise, Idaho. After graduating from ITT, Herrell worked as a realtor in Alamogordo, New Mexico. She later worked as a real estate broker for Future Real Estate in Alamogordo.</p>

<p>Born and raised in New Mexico, Yvette Herrell represents the state’s largest congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of Committee on Natural Resources and Committee on Oversight and Reform. On Natural Resources, Herrell serves on the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee and as Vice Ranking Member of the Energy and Minerals Development Subcommittee. On Oversight, she serves on both the Environment and Government Operations Subcommittees. Herrell is a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee.</p>

<p>Before she was elected to Congress, Herrell served four terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives (2011-2019) where she helped found the Article V Caucus to restore federalism and curtail growth of the federal government. Prior to entering public service, Herrell owned and operated several successful small businesses, including a heavy equipment operating company, an insurance adjusting company, a boarding kennel, and a real estate business.</p>

<p>Herrell strongly believes in the Right to Life and the Second Amendment. An advocate for an ‘all of the above’ energy policy, she is actively engaged in efforts to protect New Mexico’s oil and gas jobs from the Biden administration’s anti-fossil fuel agenda. Representing a district that borders Mexico for 180 miles, Herrell has likewise championed efforts to secure our southern border and give border communities a much-needed voice in the immigration debate.</p>

HERRELL, Yvette, a Representative from New Mexico; born in Ruidoso, Lincoln County, N. Mex., March 16, 1964; enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation; graduated from Cloudcroft High School, Cloudcroft, N. Mex.; A.A., ITT Educational Services, Inc., Boise, ID; attended New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N. Mex.; realtor; business owner; campaign aide; member of the New Mexico state house of representatives, 2011-2019; unsuccessful candidate for election to the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress in 2018; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (January 3, 2021-present).