Juan De Jesus Sanchez III: A Long-Term Vision for New Mexico’s State Land Office
Juan De Jesus Sanchez III, a 13th generation New Mexican and farmer from Valencia County, is running for New Mexico State Land Commissioner with a focus on long-term stewardship of public lands, water conservation, and balancing revenue generation with environmental protection. As the first candidate to announce his intention to succeed Stephanie Garcia Richard, Sanchez brings experience as a former natural resource specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and technical advisor for the New Mexico Acequia Commission. His campaign emphasizes protecting culturally significant areas, strengthening rural economies, and ensuring land and water remain in the hands of responsible stewards for future generations.
Background and Experience in Natural Resources
Sanchez’s professional background includes work with water resources as a natural resource specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and as a technical advisor for the New Mexico Acequia Commission, where he supported traditional irrigation systems vital to northern New Mexico’s agricultural communities. He also served as a political director and deputy campaign manager for U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, giving him insight into state and federal policy intersections. Sanchez highlights his time working as a ranger on public lands and his personal connection to New Mexico’s landscapes, including hunting trips in Corona, as formative experiences that shape his approach to land management.
Campaign Priorities: Conservation, Revenue, and Oversight
If elected, Sanchez aims to bring a long-term vision to the State Land Office, prioritizing the protection of areas sacred and special to New Mexicans. He has spoken about the demand for greater oversight of leases to private landowners, citing the historical case of Jeffrey Epstein leasing public land for grazing through the State Land Office until the leases were canceled in 2019 following his indictment in New York. Sanchez advocates for balancing the pursuit of revenue from state trust lands with environmental stewardship, ensuring that economic benefits do not approach at the cost of ecological or cultural degradation.
Endorsements and Political Support
Sanchez received the most votes from delegates at the Democratic Party of New Mexico’s preprimary convention, positioning him as a leading contender in the primary. He has been endorsed by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, who hosted an event in Santa Fe in February 2026 to introduce Sanchez to key donors, advocates, and allies. Heinrich’s support underscores Sanchez’s alignment with Democratic priorities on energy, conservation, and rural development.
Vision for New Mexico’s Future
Sanchez frames his candidacy around intergenerational responsibility, emphasizing that decisions made today about public lands and water will impact future generations. As a father to a 5-month-old daughter, he personalizes this commitment, stating he is running “with an eye toward the future.” His platform includes strengthening rural economies by supporting farmers, ranchers, and conservation advocates who steward land responsibly, and ensuring that New Mexico’s natural resources remain in the hands of those who protect them.
By combining technical expertise in natural resource management with deep roots in New Mexico’s agricultural and conservation communities, Sanchez presents himself as a candidate prepared to manage the State Land Office with both fiscal accountability and environmental integrity.