OPINION: A win for New Mexico's public lands — but the fight isn't over

In New Mexico, our land is more than just open spaces, it’s who we are and essential to our way of life. That’s why thousands of New Mexicans raised the alarm to oppose the dangerous land sell-off provision that appeared in a federal budget bill. The measure would have forced the largest sale of national public lands in modern history, 2 million acres across 11 Western states, including here, put up for sale.

Thanks to those who stood up for our land, that provision was removed. It’s a huge relief for communities across America, but especially here in New Mexico. I was honored to stand with fellow New Mexicans and protest the sell off. I proudly worked with conservation organizations and Sen. Martin Heinrich to create videos informing tens of thousands of people of the attack on our lands and urging them to take action.

But let’s be clear: This could just be the beginning. The fact that this provision made it this far should serve as a wake-up call. Our public lands are still under threat — if not from this bill, then from the next one, or the one after that. As someone who’s dedicated my career to protecting and celebrating New Mexico’s land and water, I know that vigilance is essential.

These lands aren’t just lines on a map. They’re places where we hunt, fish, camp, graze cattle, gather firewood and learn from elders. They’re where we teach our kids the meaning of work and the value of nature. From hiking trails, to hunting spots, to grazing allotments, to the places our waters flow through, they are the heart of New Mexico’s cultural identity.

That’s why I spoke out. And that’s why I’ll continue to speak out and fight for our public lands.

The now-removed land sale plan would have given federal agencies unchecked power to auction off public lands — without public input, tribal consultation, or protections for wildlife habitat or sacred sites. It would have opened the door for out-of-state investors to buy up land that families have depended on for generations.

That’s not how land management should work. And it’s not how our state lands will be managed if I’m elected land commissioner.

New Mexico’s 9 million acres of trust lands weren’t targeted in this bill, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe from future attacks. If anything, this showed us just how quickly public lands can be in danger. We need leadership that treats our lands not as bargaining chips to be sold, but as a part of our identity, culture and livelihood to be protected for future generations.

As land commissioner, I’ll fight to ensure our lands are managed with long-term benefit in mind. That means keeping access open for New Mexicans. It means listening to communities that rely on these lands. And it means saying, clearly and consistently, that New Mexico’s public lands are not for sale.

We won this round, but we can’t afford to get complacent. Protecting public land takes more than responding to threats. It also takes proactive, principled leadership that understands our land is not just a resource.

I’m running for state land commissioner to be that kind of leader. I’m a 13th-generation New Mexican, raised in a ranching family. I grew up hunting, hiking, fishing and working the land — just like generations before me. These lands made me who I am. I know what it means to live with the land, to work it and to depend on it. And I know what’s at stake if we don’t protect it.