Juan De Jesus Sanchez, Iii

Juan de Jesus Sanchez III, 34, is a 13th-generation New Mexican from a ranching family near Belen that relied on State Trust Land. He worked as a natural resources specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Mexico Acequia Commission, and served as political director for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich. Sanchez, a former vice chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, is running for Commissioner of Public Lands. He advocates for balancing revenue, especially from oil and gas, with environmental protection. His priorities include diversifying revenue streams with renewable energy like geothermal, creating rural jobs, and collaborating with tribal and traditional land-based communities to protect resources. He holds a bachelor's degree from New Mexico Highlands University.