Gabriel Vasquez was born on August 3, 1984, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, as a first-generation American in a Mexican-American family, where his mother instilled values of hard work to support the household.

He earned a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from New Mexico State University in 2008, beginning his career as a journalist and public relations professional before serving as executive director of the Las Cruces Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

From 2013 to 2015, Gabe Vasquez worked as a field representative for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, followed by roles in conservation and advocacy, including vice president of communications for First Focus on Children, director of community relations for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, deputy state director for the Wilderness Society, and deputy director for federal lands at the Western Conservation Foundation from 2019 to 2021.​

In 2017, Gabe Vasquez won election to the Las Cruces City Council for District 3 with over 70 percent of the vote, serving until 2021, where he secured millions in investments for parks and infrastructure, promoted job creation, and developed plans to combat poverty while protecting public lands like the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. 

He entered the 2022 congressional race for New Mexico's 2nd district, a newly redrawn seat covering southern New Mexico including Las Cruces, Carlsbad, and parts of Albuquerque, defeating Republican incumbent Yvette Herrell by 1,350 votes to assume office on January 3, 2023, as a member of the Democratic Party.

Gabe Vasquez navigated a competitive rematch in 2024, winning reelection against Herrell by 11,032 votes despite the district's narrow shift toward Republicans in the presidential race, solidifying his representation through the 119th Congress.​

During his tenure, Gabe Vasquez has focused on bipartisan priorities, introducing 2023 legislation to provide federal pension benefits to teachers in tribal schools to address shortages in Indian Country and improve Native American education.

He serves on the House Committees on Agriculture, with subcommittees on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology as well as Forestry, and on Armed Services, covering Readiness and Strategic Forces, while holding memberships in the New Democrat Coalition, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Equality Caucus, and co-founding the Southwest Caucus as vice chair of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus.

He also supported COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers, opposed ending the national emergency prematurely, advocated for abortion rights and codifying Roe v. Wade, and voted for the 2024 TikTok ban legislation over data security concerns, while calling for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race citing age-related issues.​