Former Democratic Party of New Mexico vice chair Juan Sanchez is the first candidate to announce a bid to become the next Commissioner of Public Lands. (Courtesy photo)
While Belen resident Juan Sanchez only decided to run in the 2026 Democratic primary for New Mexico Land Commissioner in the last few months, he’s been thinking about it for longer, he says.
“I’ve been traveling the state for the last 10 years, working in natural resources, conservation and public engagement, and some of the things I’ve realized while doing that is, we are a state that is so rich in our lands and our culture and all the things around us, and it feels like it came to me over the last few months that this is something I think I could do,” Sanchez told Source NM…