Commissioner of Public Lands of New Mexico · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the New Mexico commissioner of public lands race?
Michael Perry has the strongest record in the New Mexico commissioner of public lands race. Michael Perry scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Juan Sanchez at 58, as of October 6, 2026. Michael Perry's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Juan Sanchez's highest marks are command of the job and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Strongest record
Michael Perry
On the ballot as Michael Jack Perry
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Juan Sanchez
On the ballot as Juan de Jesus Sanchez, III
58 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Michael Perry
- On the record2026
Major contributors to his campaign include New Mexico oil and gas families, including the Yates and Murphy families.
- On the record1990s to 2026
Worked as a state game warden in Questa and Hobbs, later at the State Land Office under Commissioner Aubrey Dunn Jr., and is completing a four-year term on the Chaves County Commission.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 1, 2026, KUNM, Sept. 28, 2026
Juan Sanchez
- On the record2026
His largest contributors include NextEra Energy ($12,400), Occidental Petroleum (at least $6,200) and Sheet Metal Workers Local 49 ($8,000).
- On the record2019 to 2024
Was political director for Sen. Martin Heinrich for about five years and deputy campaign manager of his 2024 reelection; Heinrich endorsed him.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Michael Perry. State campaign finance reports are on file, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. No official ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Juan Sanchez. State campaign finance reports are on file, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal. No official ethics or campaign finance finding found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Michael Perry. No public record found.
Juan Sanchez. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Michael Perry. Gave interviews to the Albuquerque Journal and KUNM for the general election. No general election debate report found.
Juan Sanchez. Gave interviews to the Albuquerque Journal and KUNM for the general election. No general election debate report found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Michael Perry. Game warden for the Department of Game and Fish in the 1990s, later at the State Land Office, and a Chaves County commissioner. No formal conduct finding found.
Juan Sanchez. Natural resources specialist and ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and political director for Sen. Martin Heinrich for about five years. No formal conduct finding found.
Source: KUNM, Sept. 28, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Michael Perry. Served as a state game warden and holds an elected seat on the Chaves County Commission. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
Juan Sanchez. Served in the federal civil service as an Army Corps of Engineers ranger. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Michael Perry. Chaves County commissioner, a former assistant commissioner of state lands at the State Land Office, and a career Game and Fish employee.
Source: KUNM, Sept. 28, 2026
Juan Sanchez. Worked in public land and natural resource management with the Army Corps of Engineers and the NM Acequia Commission, and five years for Sen. Heinrich, including as deputy campaign manager in 2024. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A, Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 1, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Michael Perry. Proposes lease-by-lease royalty rates based on geology and costs, disclosure of grazing lessees' actual owners, and specific criteria for land exchanges, including equal or greater appraised value.
Juan Sanchez. Proposes stronger background reviews and more field staff for grazing leases, expanded renewable energy and transmission leasing, keeping the 25 percent premium royalty rate, and case-by-case land swap criteria with Tribal input.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Michael Perry. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, gave interviews to the Journal and KUNM, and publishes priorities on his campaign site.
Juan Sanchez. Answered the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, gave interviews to the Journal and KUNM, and publishes his priorities on his campaign site.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Michael Perry. Spent his formative years in Roswell, attended Roswell High School and lives in Roswell. No in-state donor share found; the Journal reports large gifts from New Mexico oil and gas families.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 1, 2026, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
Juan Sanchez. A 13th-generation New Mexican raised on ranchland in Valencia and Socorro counties; Belen High School graduate; lives in Los Chavez. No in-state donor share found.
Sources: Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 1, 2026, Albuquerque Journal Candidate Q&A
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Michael Perry. Owns Wildlife and Habitat Prescriptions, a wildlife, habitat and watershed management company. Campaign reports are on file with no finding.
Juan Sanchez. Served as deputy campaign manager for Sen. Heinrich's 2024 reelection campaign. His own campaign reports are on file with no finding.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Michael Perry. No public record found.
Juan Sanchez. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Michael Perry. No public record found.
Juan Sanchez. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Michael Perry. No public record found.
Juan Sanchez. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Michael Perry. No public record found.
Juan Sanchez. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Michael Perry. No public record found.
Juan Sanchez. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the New Mexico commissioner of public lands race?
Michael Perry has the strongest record in the New Mexico commissioner of public lands race. Michael Perry scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Juan Sanchez at 58, as of October 6, 2026. Michael Perry's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Juan Sanchez's highest marks are command of the job and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the New Mexico commissioner of public lands race in 2026?
Michael Perry (Republican), Juan Sanchez (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Michael Perry a good candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands?
Michael Perry scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Juan Sanchez a good candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands?
Juan Sanchez scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Mexico race scored, and the New Mexico 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.