Each summary is supported by the candidate's own words from a campaign source, direct candidate response, or official primary record retained with the profile.
Public lands, energy, water, and environment
Candidate positionWater is life in New Mexico. Michael has worked hands-on with watershed restoration projects and understands the vital connection between healthy land and clean, sustainable water. He supports proactive, collaborative strategies to manage our waterways and protect agricultural and municipal water supplies.
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Water is life in New Mexico. Michael has worked hands-on with watershed restoration projects and understands the vital connection between healthy land and clean, sustainable water. He supports proactive, collaborative strategies to manage our waterways and protect agricultural and municipal water supplies.
Public lands, energy, water, and environment
Candidate positionNew Mexico is facing increasing threats from catastrophic wildfires and post-fire flooding. Michael has seen the consequences firsthand. He is committed to strengthening interagency collaboration, restoring forest health, and investing in long-term wildfire prevention and recovery planning.
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New Mexico is facing increasing threats from catastrophic wildfires and post-fire flooding. Michael has seen the consequences firsthand. He is committed to strengthening interagency collaboration, restoring forest health, and investing in long-term wildfire prevention and recovery planning.
Public lands, energy, water, and environment
Candidate positionMichael knows that New Mexico's landscape is incredibly diverse and so are its people and communities. From oilfields to farmland, desert to forest, and villages to cities, no one-size-fits-all solution will work. He is dedicated to listening to local voices and tailoring land policies to fit the unique needs of each town, tribe, and county.
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Michael knows that New Mexico's landscape is incredibly diverse and so are its people and communities. From oilfields to farmland, desert to forest, and villages to cities, no one-size-fits-all solution will work. He is dedicated to listening to local voices and tailoring land policies to fit the unique needs of each town, tribe, and county.
Public lands, energy, water, and environment
Candidate positionMichael strongly supports public access to state trust lands for hunting, fishing, recreation, and cultural uses. He believes our public lands belong to the people and should be protected and accessible for future generations.
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Michael strongly supports public access to state trust lands for hunting, fishing, recreation, and cultural uses. He believes our public lands belong to the people and should be protected and accessible for future generations.
Agriculture and rural policy
Candidate positionEnergy production plays a critical role in funding New Mexico's public schools and services. Michael supports the responsible development of oil and gas resources while ensuring land and environmental protections remain in place. He also recognizes the growing importance of renewable energy in New Mexico's future. As Land Commissioner, he will work to expand opportunities in wind, solar, and geothermal energy ensuring that New Mexico continues to lead the way in both traditional and renewable energy sectors. Equally important, Michael understands that New Mexico's farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our rural communities and essential to our way of life. He is committed to advocating for their rights, protecting grazing access, and ensuring that agriculture remains a vital part of our states economy and land use strategy.
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Energy production plays a critical role in funding New Mexico's public schools and services. Michael supports the responsible development of oil and gas resources while ensuring land and environmental protections remain in place. He also recognizes the growing importance of renewable energy in New Mexico's future. As Land Commissioner, he will work to expand opportunities in wind, solar, and geothermal energy ensuring that New Mexico continues to lead the way in both traditional and renewable energy sectors. Equally important, Michael understands that New Mexico's farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our rural communities and essential to our way of life. He is committed to advocating for their rights, protecting grazing access, and ensuring that agriculture remains a vital part of our states economy and land use strategy.
Agriculture and rural policy
Candidate positionMichael believes in active land stewardship through conservation not passive preservation. While preservation often seeks to lock land away from use, conservation balances ecological health with economic productivity and public access. Michael supports land policies that allow for responsible grazing, recreation, energy development, and habitat restoration ensuring that our lands remain productive, resilient, and available to future generations. His boots-on-the-ground experience has shown that active management is the best path forward for New Mexico's diverse and dynamic landscapes.
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Michael believes in active land stewardship through conservation not passive preservation. While preservation often seeks to lock land away from use, conservation balances ecological health with economic productivity and public access. Michael supports land policies that allow for responsible grazing, recreation, energy development, and habitat restoration ensuring that our lands remain productive, resilient, and available to future generations. His boots-on-the-ground experience has shown that active management is the best path forward for New Mexico's diverse and dynamic landscapes.
Elections, ethics, and government accountability
Candidate positionMichael is not here to be a Republican or Democrat Land Commissioner, he's here to be a New Mexican Land Commissioner. He believes in transparency, accountability, and working across the aisle to deliver real results for the people of New Mexico.
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Michael is not here to be a Republican or Democrat Land Commissioner, he's here to be a New Mexican Land Commissioner. He believes in transparency, accountability, and working across the aisle to deliver real results for the people of New Mexico.
Support for Energy, Agriculture, and Rural Economies
Candidate positionSupport for Energy, Agriculture, and Rural Economies
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Support for Energy, Agriculture, and Rural Economies
Support for Energy, Agriculture, and Rural Economies
Candidate positionHe also recognizes the growing importance of renewable energy in New Mexico's future. As Land Commissioner, he will work to expand opportunities in wind, solar, and geothermal energy ensuring that New Mexico continues to lead the way in both traditional and renewable energy sectors.
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He also recognizes the growing importance of renewable energy in New Mexico's future. As Land Commissioner, he will work to expand opportunities in wind, solar, and geothermal energy ensuring that New Mexico continues to lead the way in both traditional and renewable energy sectors.
Responsible Land Management
Candidate positionGoal / PriorityProtecting Water & Watersheds
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Protecting Water & Watersheds
Access to Public Lands
Candidate positionGoal / PriorityEqually important, Michael understands that New Mexico's farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our rural communities and essential to our way of life. He is committed to advocating for their rights, protecting grazing access, and ensuring that agriculture remains a vital part of our states economy and land use strategy.
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Equally important, Michael understands that New Mexico's farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our rural communities and essential to our way of life. He is committed to advocating for their rights, protecting grazing access, and ensuring that agriculture remains a vital part of our states economy and land use strategy.
Access to Public Lands
Candidate positionBeliefEnergy production plays a critical role in funding New Mexico's public schools and services. Michael supports the responsible development of oil and gas resources while ensuring land and environmental protections remain in place.
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Energy production plays a critical role in funding New Mexico's public schools and services. Michael supports the responsible development of oil and gas resources while ensuring land and environmental protections remain in place.
Get Involved
Candidate positionBeliefMichael is running for New Mexico State Land Commissioner not as a Republican or Democrat-but as a dedicated public servant who understands the importance of collaboration, accountability, and responsible land management. He believes in protecting New Mexico's natural resources, supporting rural economies, ensuring access to public lands, and standing strong for the vital oil and
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Michael is running for New Mexico State Land Commissioner not as a Republican or Democrat-but as a dedicated public servant who understands the importance of collaboration, accountability, and responsible land management. He believes in protecting New Mexico's natural resources, supporting rural economies, ensuring access to public lands, and standing strong for the vital oil and
Use Balanced, Science-Based State-Land Management
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyManage state trust lands with balanced, science-based practices and a long-term stewardship plan.
- Preserve the management standards without inventing a rule.
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Michael Perry campaign
Use Collaborative Watershed Management to Protect Water Supplies
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyUse proactive, collaborative waterway and watershed management to protect agricultural and municipal water supplies.
- Preserve the collaboration mechanism and named beneficiary supplies.
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Michael Perry campaign
Strengthen Interagency Wildfire and Flood Coordination
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyStrengthen coordination among local, state, and federal agencies on wildfire and post-fire flooding.
- Preserve the interagency mechanism and both hazards.
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Michael Perry campaign
Restore Forest Health
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyUse active land management to restore forest health.
- Preserve the management direction without inventing treatments.
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Michael Perry campaign
Invest in Long-Term Wildfire Prevention and Recovery Planning
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyInvest in long-term wildfire prevention and post-fire recovery planning.
- Preserve the investment and planning mechanisms.
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Michael Perry campaign
Tailor Land Policies to Local Communities
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyDevelop state-land policies around the distinct needs of towns, Tribes, counties, and rural and urban communities.
- Preserve the local consultation and tailoring mechanism.
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Michael Perry campaign
Protect Access to State Trust Lands
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyProtect public access to state trust lands for hunting, fishing, recreation, and cultural uses.
- Preserve all named access purposes.
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Michael Perry campaign
Allow Responsible Oil and Gas Development With Environmental Protections
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyContinue oil and gas development on state lands while maintaining land and environmental protections.
- Preserve the development direction and explicit safeguards.
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Michael Perry campaign
Expand Wind, Solar, and Geothermal Opportunities
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyExpand state-land opportunities for wind, solar, and geothermal energy development.
- Preserve the three named energy sources and land-use mechanism.
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Michael Perry campaign
Protect Farmers, Ranchers, and Grazing Access
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyAdvocate for farmers' and ranchers' rights and protect grazing access on state lands.
- Preserve the beneficiary groups and access mechanism.
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Michael Perry campaign
Use Transparent, Bipartisan Land-Office Leadership
Candidate positionFactVote summary · BeliefApply transparency, accountability, and cross-party cooperation in managing the State Land Office.
- Preserve the candidate's governing principles.
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Michael Perry campaign
Favor Active Conservation Over Passive Preservation
Candidate positionFactVote summary · PolicyUse active conservation that balances ecological health with grazing, recreation, energy development, habitat restoration, economic productivity, and public access.
- Preserve the candidate's stated management approach and named land uses.
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Michael Perry campaign
