Jonas MoyaCandidate

Jonas Moya

Commissioner of Public LandsDemocrat

NM-Statewide Commissioner of Public Lands

Hispanic (New Mexican, fourth-generation)·Former NM State Director, USDA Farm Service Agency (2021-2025)

Why This Race Matters

Jonas Moya is running against Matthew McQueen (D), Juan Sanchez III (D) in primary; Michael Perry (R) in general.

Open seat race after term-limited Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced her run for lieutenant governor. The Commissioner oversees 9 million acres of state trust land generating over $2.6 billion in annual revenues (over 90% from energy development). Moya brings a rare agricultural perspective to a position traditionally dominated by energy policy.

Three-way Democratic primary: Moya (rancher/FSA director), Matthew McQueen (Valencia County attorney/state representative), and Juan Sanchez III (Valencia County native). Republican Michael Perry is the sole GOP candidate. All four participated in a Las Cruces forum in November 2025. Moya acknowledged his agricultural background differs from the energy sector focus but sees it as an asset for balanced stewardship.

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

About

Jonas Moya is a fourth-generation rancher from Tucumcari, New Mexico, running for Commissioner of Public Lands in 2026. Raised on his grandmother's farm and cattle ranch in eastern New Mexico, he developed a lifelong connection to the land and agriculture. He served as the Biden-appointed New Mexico State Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency from 2021 to 2025, overseeing 73 employees across 32 of the state's 33 counties and delivering hundreds of millions in aid to farmers and ranchers. At 34, he is one of the youngest candidates in the race.

Family & Heritage

Fourth-generation New Mexican agriculturist with deep roots in the state's diverse agriculture industry. Raised on his grandmother's farm and cattle ranch in Tucumcari by his mother and grandmother, who instilled in him a strong faith in the land and agriculture. His family built their lives around ranching and farming in eastern New Mexico for four generations.

Political Career

Before Politics

Fourth-generation rancher in Tucumcari; Executive Director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association; Civic Engagement and Policy Manager at New Mexico First (nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization); Biden-appointed NM State Director for USDA Farm Service Agency (2021-2025), supervising 73 employees across 32 counties and a multimillion-dollar budget

Education

B.S. in Agricultural Economics and Business from New Mexico State University

Key Issues & Priorities

*Protecting state Land Grant Permanent Fund
*Balancing energy development with environmental stewardship
*Expanding outdoor access for recreation
*Honoring acequia associations, tribal nations, and land grant communities
*Maximizing revenue from 9 million surface acres and 13 million subsurface acres of state trust land
*Supporting rural hospitals and schools through public land revenues
*Addressing climate change impacts on agriculture

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