Juan Sanchez III

The New Mexico State Land Office has a clear and dedicated mission – to protect and preserve state trust land while generating resources for our state institutions, like our public schools, hospitals, and universities. As your Land Commissioner, Juan will be first and foremost dedicated to protecting public lands, strengthening economies by continuing to generate resources for communities, and ensuring that land and water remain in the hands of those who steward them responsibly today and will continue to do so for generations to come.

The State Land Office manages 9 million acres of surface state trust land that has been leased to New Mexico families and tribal communities since statehood. These agricultural, ranching, and grazing lands and their caretakers face a variety of challenges, including drought, erosion, dwindling return on cattle ranching, and invasive plant species threatening grazing. Juan’s professional background in Water Resources, his family’s ranching roots, and his determination to see our rural communities have what they need to preserve their way of life are the exact experiences needed to ensure rural and tribal communities’ interests are represented at the Land Office.

The same division that oversees Agriculture and Ranching within the State Land Office also plays an important role in expanding access to state trust lands for outdoor recreation, including hiking trails, rock climbing, camping options, and hunting and fishing. Juan’s experience as a Natural Resource Specialist at Cochiti Pueblo with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with the New Mexico Acequia Commission, and as a passionate advocate for the protection of our outdoor spaces make him uniquely suited to responsibly increase access for New Mexicans to enjoy their state lands.

New Mexico has some of the highest potential of all Western states for development and deployment of wind, solar, battery storage, and transmission. This build out also means some tough adjustments for our communities. The Eastern plains of New Mexico are now dotted with large wind farms, with more to come. Northwest and Central New Mexico are building solar fields spanning hundreds of acres. Transmission lines are fueling the increased power demand of the country. The Land Commissioner plays an important role in the future of renewable energy in New Mexico and Juan is dedicated to being a thoughtful partner with communities and companies to ensure those being impacted are brought to the table to advocate for family sustaining local jobs and investment in our people when siting new projects.

Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard created the first dedicated Office of Cultural Resources at the State Land Office. This office oversees the requirements for a cultural resources assessment and land survey before groundbreaking on any project on state trust land. Juan will continue this legacy as well as work with our tribes, nations, and pueblos to innovate further ways that the Office can protect resources and generational lands important to tribal communities.

“I love our home, I love our culture, and I love our public lands— and I believe they deserve to be celebrated and protected.” – Juan De Jesus Sanchez III

In the last decade, New Mexico has risen to be the second largest oil producing state in the country. This industry is especially important to the State Land Office as royalties from the production of oil and gas fuel New Mexico’s Land Grant Permanent Fund, sending billions of dollars to our public schools and early childhood education system every year. The mineral acres leased to the industry are constitutionally held in trust for the benefit of future generations of New Mexicans. As your Commissioner, Juan will partner with the industry and the communities in which they are active to the best benefit of New Mexicans. The most prosperous industry in our state should be held to the highest standard of responsible operation in order to protect the health of our people and the health of the land.

Juan De Jesus Sanchez III is a born and raised New Mexican, Democrat, farmer, and conservation advocate who is running for New Mexico Land Commissioner because he believes in protecting public lands, strengthening rural economies, and ensuring that land and water remain in the hands of those who steward them responsibly today and will continue to do so for generations to come.

Supports protecting state trust lands from sale to the highest bidder while keeping New Mexico communities' interests central to Land Office decisions.

• Also prioritizes preserving trust lands while continuing to generate revenue for public schools, hospitals, universities, and other beneficiary institutions.

Prioritizes representing rural and tribal agricultural communities and helping ranching and grazing operations confront drought, erosion, invasive plants, and economic pressures.

Supports responsibly expanding public access to state trust lands for hiking, climbing, camping, hunting, and fishing.

Supports working with affected communities and renewable-energy companies during project siting so local residents have a role and projects support local jobs and community investment.

• The campaign identifies wind, solar, battery storage, and transmission as major areas of future development.

Supports continued Land Office partnership with the oil and gas industry while holding operators to high standards intended to protect public health and state lands.

• Frames responsible production as important both to trust-land stewardship and to revenue for public institutions.

Supports continuing the Land Office's dedicated cultural-resources protections and working with tribes, nations, and pueblos on additional ways to protect important resources and generational lands.