By John A. Sanchez, 29th Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
I’ve spent many years in public service to this state.
I was born and raised in the North Valley, served in the New Mexico House of Representatives, and had the privilege of serving two terms as lieutenant governor. I also served as President Trump’s Chairman for Hispanic Prosperity Initiatives.
I know what it takes to govern. I know the difference between a politician who talks and a leader who delivers. That is exactly why I am asking you to vote for Republican Doug Turner for governor of New Mexico on June 2.
New Mexico is at a crossroads.
That is not a campaign slogan. It is the truth. Our state consistently ranks near the bottom in education. Businesses are leaving or choosing not to come here at all. Crime has made too many of our communities feel unsafe. And for years, the political class in Santa Fe has responded to every crisis the same way: more spending, more bureaucracy, and more excuses. We have had politicians who are very good at giving speeches. We have had far too few who are good at running things.
Doug Turner is not a career politician. He is an entrepreneur who built and runs businesses here in New Mexico that now operate in more than 40 countries. He chaired the board of Public Charter Schools of New Mexico and has been an education advocate long before it became politically fashionable. He managed Gary Johnson’s successful gubernatorial campaign because he understands how to organize, execute, and win.
These are not talking points. They are a track record.
Our state’s problems are not mysteries. We know what a business-friendly tax climate looks like. We know what school choice and accountability can do for children trapped in underperforming schools. We know that when you make it easier to build, hire, and invest, people respond. The question has never been what to do. The question is whether we have someone in the governor’s office who can actually get it done.
Doug Turner can.
He has spent time speaking with law enforcement officers across the state, listening to their frustrations with a judicial system that keeps releasing repeat offenders back onto our streets. He understands that public safety is the foundation for strong communities and economic growth. Doug also knows the flow of drugs and criminals across our southern border must be stopped and that it is the governor’s responsibility to work with the federal government to enforce the law.
We must diversify our economy, and that requires a governor who speaks the language of business, who has sat across the table from investors, who has made payroll, and who understands what regulatory burdens actually cost small business owners trying to keep the lights on in Roswell, Gallup, or Farmington. That is why his economic plan includes cutting gross receipts and personal income taxes so New Mexicans can keep more money in their pockets. Those policies will help grow our economy and create an environment where businesses can thrive.
Doug understands firsthand that our education crisis is also an economic crisis. An undereducated workforce does not attract employers. A state that fails its children fails its future. He has spent years fighting for better schools, not from a podium, but in the trenches doing the difficult work of reform.
He also understands something too many in politics have forgotten: you can be a committed conservative and still get things done. New Mexico has a Democratic legislature with near-veto-proof majorities.
A governor who arrives in January with a chip on his shoulder and a scorched-earth agenda will accomplish nothing. Doug knows how to build coalitions. He understands that results require working with people who do not always agree with you, and he has done exactly that throughout his career.
I have a simple test for any candidate who asks for my support: show me what you have built. Show me what you have fixed. Show me the moment when things became difficult and you did not walk away.
Doug Turner passes that test.
The others in this race are good people, but Doug brings something genuinely different to this contest: the experience of someone who has operated in the real world, under pressure, and delivered results.
New Mexico deserves that. Our children deserve a governor who treats education with urgency, accountability, and a clear plan. Our small businesses deserve a governor who has actually owned one. Our communities deserve a governor who understands that the government’s role is not to replace the private sector, but to create the conditions for it to thrive.
I’ve voted for Republican Doug Turner. On June 2, I hope you will join me.
The choice is clear. New Mexico needs Doug Turner as our next governor.
John A. Sanchez served as the 29th Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico from 2011 to 2019.
