Derrick LenteServing

Derrick Lente

State HouseDemocrat

NM-HD-65 State House

Native American (Isleta and Sandia Pueblo)·Chair of House Taxation & Revenue Committee

Why This Race Matters

Lente's current term ends December 31, 2026. He has been re-elected unopposed in 2018, 2022, and 2024, and won his only contested general election in 2020 with 76.8% of the vote. As Chair of the House Taxation & Revenue Committee, he is one of the most powerful Native American legislators in the state, shaping tax policy affecting tribal nations and all New Mexicans.

HD-65 is a solidly Democratic, majority-Native American district covering seven Indian Pueblos, Navajo Nation chapters, and the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Lente has championed HB 417 directing $10M in liquor excise tax revenue to the Tribal Harms Alleviation Fund and HB 218 on tax e-filing mandates in the 2025 session.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 2, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Derrick Lente is a New Mexico State Representative for District 65, serving since 2017. Born and raised on the Sandia Pueblo reservation in Bernalillo, New Mexico, he became the first male from Sandia Pueblo to graduate from law school when he earned his J.D. from UNM in 2006. He has over 20 years of experience working on New Mexico water issues and made national headlines in 2019 after introducing HB 100, which successfully replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day in New Mexico.

Family & Heritage

Born and raised in a traditional Sandia Pueblo family where his parents often worked two jobs to raise him and his two older brothers. Member of both Isleta and Sandia Pueblo. Married to Kassandra with three children. Currently operates his family farm and cattle ranch on the Sandia Pueblo.

Political Career

Before Politics

Tribal government consultant for over 10 years; Owner of Spherion employment agency with offices in NM and CA (2008-2013, employing 800+ New Mexicans); Professor and visiting professor at several universities; Owner/Operator of Lente Farms and cattle ranch on Sandia Pueblo

Education

B.A. in Intercultural Communications and English from University of New Mexico; J.D. from UNM School of Law (2006, specializing in Federal Indian Law)

Key Issues & Priorities

*Water quality and allocation
*Tribal sovereignty and sacred site protection
*Tax policy (chairs Taxation & Revenue)
*Environmental protection
*Indigenous language preservation
*Oil and gas tax reform
*Tribal Harms Alleviation Fund

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