Eastern NM rancher Jonas Moya throws hat into state land commissioner race

SANTA FE — An eastern New Mexico rancher who led the state Farm Service Agency under former President Joe Biden has entered the state land commissioner race.

Jonas Moya, who runs a cattle ranch near Tucumcari, announced this week he is seeking the Democratic nomination in the open 2026 race.

Current New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard is barred from seeking a third consecutive term next year and announced in March her plan to run for lieutenant governor.

Moya stepped down from his role leading the state Farm Service Agency — an office housed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture — in January after three-plus years on the job.

Before that, he was the executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association and worked for New Mexico First, a now-defunct nonprofit group.

If elected next year, he said he’d seek to improve customer service at the State Land Office while balancing the interests of hunters, anglers, ranchers and others who use state trust land.

“I want to make sure we’re making the most money possible while being a good steward of the land for New Mexicans,” Moya told the Journal.

He becomes the second Democrat in the race, joining Valencia County native and former state Democratic Party official Juan Sanchez, who launched his campaign in April. No Republican candidates have publicly announced campaigns.

The State Land Office oversees more than 9 million acres of state trust land, plus 13 million subsurface acres, for the benefit of public schools and other beneficiaries.

The annual earnings recorded by the office jumped from roughly $1.1 billion during the 2019 budget year to nearly $2.6 billion in the 2024 fiscal year, with more than 90% of that amount coming from oil and natural gas royalties.

Moya acknowledged his background is more rooted in the agricultural industry than the energy sector, but said his diverse background shows a willingness to tackle new challenges.

When it comes to running for elected office, Moya said he likely would not have launched a campaign for the State Land Office if Garcia Richard was able to seek another term.

But he said the timing aligned for seeking the statewide office after he returned to his ranch earlier this year.

“I want to be the best candidate and one that New Mexicans trust their future with,” he said in a Thursday interview.

Moya also said the open race is especially vital as the U.S. Congress weighs the possibility of designating some public lands for sale. That proposal drew large protests in Santa Fe this week during a meeting of the Western Governors’ Association.

New Mexico’s primary election next year is set for June 2, with the general election scheduled to take place Nov. 3, 2026.