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Stephanie Garcia Richard

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Stephanie Garcia Richard
28th Public Lands Commissioner of New Mexico
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
GovernorMichelle Lujan Grisham
Preceded byAubrey Dunn Jr.
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
from the 43rd district
In office
January 15, 2013 – January 1, 2019
Preceded byJames Hall
Succeeded byChristine Chandler
Personal details
Born1974 or 1975 (age 51–52)
Tucumcari, New Mexico, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseEric Vasquez
EducationColumbia University (BA)
University of California, Los Angeles (GrCert)
WebsiteOfficial website

Stephanie M. Garcia Richard (born 1974/1975)[1] is an American politician who currently serves as the New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands.[2] Garcia Richard previously served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from January 2013 through December 2018, representing the 43rd district.[3] She chaired the House Education Committee and served on the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and House Labor and Economic Development committee.[4] Garcia Richard is the Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico in the 2026 election.[5]

Education

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Garcia Richard was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico and raised in Silver City.[6] She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Barnard College of Columbia University, and her teaching certificate from UCLA.[7]

Career

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Garcia Richard has served in New Mexican politics since her first election 2012.

In March 2025, Garcia Richard announced her bid for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico and reportedly raised significantly more than her two opponents, Harold Pope Jr. and Maggie Toulouse Oliver, but Richard suspended her campaign in October 2025 after her husband was diagnosed with cancer[8][9].

New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands

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Garcia Richard was elected as New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands during the 2018 New Mexico elections, and began serving in this position on January 1, 2019. She is the first woman and first Latina to serve in the position. Her deputy for public affairs is Tarin Nix.[10]

New Mexico House of Representatives

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Garcia Richard was first elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2012 for District 43. She represented the district from 2013 through 2018. She served on the Education and Labor & Economic Development committees. During the 2017 and 2018 Legislative Session, She served as chair for the House Education Committee. During her tenure in the House of Representatives, Garcia Richard sponsored 105 bills and acted as co-sponsor for 115 bills.[11]

Personal life

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Stephanie Garcia Richard was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and raised in Silver City. She is married to Eric Vasquez and has two adult children.[12]

Election history

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Election history of Stephanie Garcia Richard from 2010.[13]

2018

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General election

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Incumbent Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn Jr. announced that he would not be seeking re-election due to his intention to run for United States Senator. This set forth an open election between State Representative Stephanie Garcia Richard, former Land Commissioner Patrick H. Lyons, and Michael Lucero.

2018 New Mexico elections[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephanie Garcia Richard 352,335 51.1
Republican Patrick H. Lyons 297,379 43.1
Libertarian Michael Lucero 39,791 5.8
Turnout 689,505

Democratic primary election

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2018 New Mexico Primary Elections[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephanie Garcia Richard 65,601 39.5
Democratic Garrett VeneKlasen 61,783 37.2
Democratic George Muñoz 38,770 23.3
Turnout 166,154

2016

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2016 New Mexico Elections[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephanie Garcia Richard (Incumbent) 8,452 58.85
Republican Sharon Stover 5,910 41.15
Turnout 14,362

2014

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2014 New Mexico Elections[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephanie Garcia Richard (Incumbent) 5,955 56.8
Republican Geoff Rodgers 4,522 43.2
Turnout 10,477

2012

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Long-time incumbent Jeannette Wallace died on April 8, 2011. Jim Hall was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez to fill the open position.

2012 New Mexico Elections[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephanie Garcia Richard 7,119 51.2
Republican Jim Hall (Incumbent) 6,788 48.8
Turnout 13,907

2010

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General election

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2010 New Mexico Elections[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jeannette Wallace (Incumbent) 5,550 50.9
Democratic Stephanie Garcia Richard 5,360 49.1
Turnout 10,910

Democratic primary election

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2010 New Mexico Primary Elections[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Stephanie Garcia Richard 1,299 59.5
Democratic Peter Sheehey 882 40.4
Turnout 2,181

References

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  1. ↑ Oxford, Andrew (May 20, 2018). "Garcia Richard runs as progressive". Santa Fe New Mexican.
  2. ↑ "Past Commissioners". www.nmstatelands.org. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  3. ↑ "Representative Stephanie Garcia Richard (D)". Santa Fe, New Mexico: New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Legislator – New Mexico Legislature". www.nmlegis.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  5. ↑ Fjeld, Jonathan (July 30, 2026). "Stephanie Garcia Richard wins Democratic lieutenant governor nomination". KOB.
  6. ↑ "Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard". NM State Land Office. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  7. ↑ "Stephanie Garcia Richard's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  8. ↑ Chacón, Daniel J. (2025-06-30) [2025-03-29]. "Garcia Richard launches run for lieutenant governor".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ alexrossnmnews (2025-10-16). "Garcia Richard halts lieutenant governor bid due to husband's health". New Mexico Political Report. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
  10. ↑ Simonich, Milan (2021-09-25). "Politician wears hero's cape; color her outfit as self-promotion". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 2025-02-06. It's a little silly, sure, but it was meant for children to engage them and was not a decision that was made by the commissioner, but by Deputy [Commissioner Tarin] Nix and myself.
  11. ↑ "Find Legislation by Sponsor". New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "About Stephanie Garcia Richard". stephaniegarciarichard.com. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  13. ↑ Uncontested primary elections are not shown.
  14. ↑ "2018 General Election results". New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  15. ↑ "2018 Primary Election results". New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  16. ↑ "2016 General Election results". New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  17. ↑ "2014 General Election results". New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  18. ↑ "2012 General Election results" (PDF). New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  19. ↑ "2010 General Election results" (PDF). New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
  20. ↑ "2010 Primary Election results" (PDF). New Mexico Secretary of State. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
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