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Public Land Commissioner's 
Race

The Land Commissioner is New Mexico's only statewide elected trustee for our children's schools, our community hospitals, and our universities. Their decisions about how to manage 9 million surface acres and 13 million mineral acres of state trust land shape classroom funding, family budgets, and the kind of energy economy our communities will inherit.

What does the Land Commisioner do?

The Commissioner of Public Lands is a constitutionally elected state officer (NM Constitution, Article V, Section 1) who heads the New Mexico State Land Office. Commissioners serve four-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The office is structured like a business: its mission is to manage state trust land to raise revenue for New Mexico public schools, hospitals, colleges, and other public institutions – the "trust beneficiaries."

The commissioner:

  • Manages state trust land – Oversees 9 million surface acres and 13 million mineral (subsurface) acres that belong to all New Mexicans, present and future

  • Leases land for revenue – Decides who can lease trust land for oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture, commercial business, rights-of-way, recreation, and more

  • Sets royalty rates and lease terms – Has direct authority over the rates and conditions for extracting oil, gas, minerals, and other resources from state trust land

  • Generates revenue for public institutions – Lease payments flow into the Land Grant Permanent Fund, which supports public schools, hospitals, universities, and other beneficiaries

  • Balances revenue with stewardship – Weighs revenue generation against conservation, cultural resource protection, public access, and responsible development

  • The Land Office runs several divisions that carry out this work: Commercial Resources (business leasing, renewable energy, rights-of-way), Mineral Resources (oil, gas, and minerals leasing, royalty management), Surface Resources (agricultural leasing), Legal, Administrative Services, and Engagement.

Key Issues the Next Commisioner Will Face

Generating Maximum Revenue for Our Schools, Hospitals, and Universities

Every lease decision affects the trust beneficiaries – our public schools, hospitals, and colleges. The commissioner has direct authority over:

  • Setting royalty rates for oil, gas, and mineral extraction (recent lease sales at a 25% royalty rate have brought in record revenue)

  • Deciding which lands to lease and on what terms

  • Screening operators through the lease sale process and bonding requirements

  • Maximizing long-term revenue for beneficiaries, not just short-term windfalls

  • Reporting revenue and distributions transparently to the public

Energy Development and the Transition

New Mexico sits at the center of the energy economy, both oil and gas and rapidly growing renewables. The commissioner influences this transition through:

  • Leasing trust land for oil and gas development under specific royalty, bonding, and reclamation terms

  • Opening trust land for solar, wind, geothermal, and other renewable energy projects

  • Setting environmental and reclamation standards in lease agreements

  • Balancing current oil and gas revenue with long-term renewable growth and stewardship​

Stewardship of Land, Water, and Cultural Resources

State trust land belongs to all New Mexicans, including the generations who come after us. The commissioner is responsible for:

  • Managing water rights tied to state trust land

  • Protecting cultural properties and sacred sites through rules like the Cultural Properties Protection Rule

  • Requiring reclamation and bonding so land is restored after extraction

  • Considering impacts on neighboring communities, including Tribal nations, before major decisions

Public Access and Recreation

State trust land provides hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor opportunities across New Mexico. The commissioner influences this by:

  • Issuing recreational and educational access permits

  • Maintaining outdoor recreation areas

  • Balancing private leases with public use

  • Honoring the land's many uses, including traditional and cultural practices

Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness

When decisions about our shared land are made behind closed doors, New Mexicans lose trust. The commissioner is accountable for:

  • Conducting lease sales openly and publishing results

  • Ensuring revenues benefit all New Mexicans through public institutions

  • Listening to Tribal nations and adjacent communities before major decisions

  • Resisting pressure from well-connected corporate interests

What You 

Can Do

✅ Check who's running for Land Commissioner on your ballot and where they stand on royalty rates, leases, and revenue
✅ Ask candidates how they'll maximize long-term revenue for our schools, hospitals, and universities
✅ Show up to Land Office lease sales and public meetings — public comment shapes decisions about our shared land
✅ Vote in the Land Commissioner race — it appears below top-ticket contests but affects every New Mexican's stake in our shared land

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