Democratic Congressman Gabriel Vasquez of New Mexico, who represents a competitive swing district, has voted against the Trump administration's tax and spending package that included a "no tax on tips" provision, but he is now backing the policy and pushing to expand it. The move highlights the political balancing act facing vulnerable Democrats in Republican-leaning or swing districts, who must weigh opposition to broader legislation from Donald Trump's agenda against the popularity of individual measures such as tax relief for tipped workers.

Vasquez opposed the wider package, often referred to by Republicans as the "big, beautiful bill," which its supporters say delivers tax benefits to millions of Americans, including increased child tax credits, tax-free tips and overtime pay, and relief for more than 45 million seniors and 127 million families. Despite voting against the overall bill, Vasquez has since embraced the specific "no tax on tips" element and is seeking to broaden its scope, reflecting efforts by battleground Democrats to appeal to working-class voters ahead of upcoming elections.