Republican enters fray while Dems claw to keep control of NM Land Office

Conservative Chaves County Commissioner Michael Perry officially launched his campaign Monday for New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands, offering voters a grounded, experienced alternative to what’s shaping up to be a far-left field of Democrat candidates.

Perry, a Roswell native with over two decades managing and protecting New Mexico’s lands and wildlife, is seeking the Republican nomination to bring what he calls “balance, common sense, and real-world experience” back to the Land Office. He previously served as Major of Southern Field Operations with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and later as Assistant Land Commissioner under Republican Aubrey Dunn. Perry currently serves as Vice Chair of the Chaves County Commission and represents New Mexico on the National Association of Counties’ Public Lands Committee.

“The land in New Mexico is in my blood,” Perry said in his announcement. “I’ve protected it, fought for it, and managed it for over 20 years. I’m running because New Mexico deserves a Land Commissioner who knows the land, respects the people, and understands the responsibility.”

The Land Office controls nearly 9 million acres of surface land and 13 million mineral acres — with revenue from those lands generating over $2 billion annually for public education and other state programs. Perry argues that rural New Mexicans and working families are being ignored in favor of radical environmentalism and anti-industry politics.

“I’ve seen firsthand how far-left policies threaten our energy producers, farmers, ranchers, and educators,” Perry said. “We need someone who can responsibly manage our public lands without sacrificing jobs or crippling local economies.”

While Perry offers a resume rooted in land stewardship, the Democrat field is already stacking up with candidates pushing extreme progressive agendas.

State Rep. Matthew McQueen, a Santa Fe-area Democrat known for his combative and elitist style in the Legislature, has entered the race pledging to go after the oil and gas industry and expand burdensome regulations. McQueen has long been at odds with rural voices and has supported legislation undermining private landowners and energy producers.

Joining him is Jonas Moya, a Tucumcari rancher and former Biden administration appointee who’s expected to be a rubber stamp for federal overreach and climate mandates from Washington, D.C. Moya brings insider connections but little to suggest he’ll challenge the extreme environmentalist policies that have hurt working New Mexicans.

Also running is Juan Sanchez, a former Army Corps bureaucrat and consultant to the Acequia Commission, whose campaign leans heavily into climate activism and expanding government control of land and water usage.

Together, the three Democrats offer a vision of government-run land management more beholden to left-wing pressure groups than the farmers, ranchers, hunters, and energy workers who depend on New Mexico’s land for their livelihoods.

Perry says he’ll stand firm in defense of responsible energy development, private property rights, and keeping land productive for future generations.

“I’ve served in the field, in the Roundhouse, and in the State Land Office,” Perry said. “Now I’m ready to serve all New Mexicans — not just the ones who live in Santa Fe and push papers for a living.”

With Democrats turning the race into a contest of who can pander hardest to the environmental lobby, Perry’s entry gives voters a clear choice between common-sense stewardship and radical politics in the 2026 election.