John A. Sanchez (born January 11, 1963)[1][2] is an American businessman and politician who served as the 29th lieutenant governor of New Mexico from 2011 to 2019.[3]

John Sanchez
29th Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
In office
January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2019
GovernorSusana Martinez
Preceded byDiane Denish
Succeeded byHowie Morales
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
from the 15th district
In office
January 1, 2001 – January 1, 2003
Preceded byRaymond Sanchez
Succeeded byTeresa Zanetti
Personal details
Born (1963-01-11) January 11, 1963 (age 61)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseDebra Sanchez

Early life

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Sanchez, the youngest of eight children, was born and raised in North Valley, New Mexico. Sanchez's great-great grandfather was a territorial legislator in 1860, and his grandfather served as a state representative in 1930.

Career

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In 1997, Sanchez was elected Trustee for the Village of Los Ranchos.

Sanchez, a one-time flight attendant and real estate agent,[4] started Right Way Roofing, a small business in Albuquerque, after high school. In 1993, Right Way Roofing was named Small Business of the Year by the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

New Mexico House of Representatives

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2000 election

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Sanchez was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, defeating 30-year incumbent and Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez, 51%-49%, a difference of just 206 votes.

Tenure

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Sanchez only served one term, representing Bernalillo County.

He proposed significant education reform that included vouchers for charter schools.[5]

In 2001, he sponsored a bill that would create term limits for the New Mexico Legislature.[6]

Committee assignments

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  • Appropriations & Finance
  • Business & Industry
  • Consumer & Public Affairs[7]
  • Education Reforms[7]
  • Judiciary
  • Labor & Human Resources
  • Taxation & Revenue[8]

Political campaigns

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President Donald Trump listens as Sanchez delivers remarks in the Rose Garden of the White House, 2020

2002 gubernatorial election

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On June 5, 2002, Sanchez received 59% of the vote in a four-way Republican primary election for Governor of New Mexico.[9]

Sanchez was defeated in the general election by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill Richardson (55% to 39%).[10]

2010 gubernatorial election

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On June 1, 2010, Sanchez received 39.6% of the vote in a three-way Republican primary election for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico.[11]

On November 2, 2010, Susana Martinez and John Sanchez were elected in the general election by a margin of 53% to 47%.[12]

2012 U.S. Senate election

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On May 24, 2011, Sanchez announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman in 2012.[13]

Also on May 24, 2011, Governor of New Mexico Susana Martinez stated that she would restrict Sanchez's activities to only those required by the Constitution of the State of New Mexico. In a press release, the Governor stated, "To prevent this race from becoming a distraction, Lt. Governor Sanchez will not be given responsibilities in my administration beyond the select few provided for in the state Constitution."[14]

Following the June 30, 2011 Federal Election Commission deadline, the Sanchez campaign reported having raised $312,000 during the period.[15] Of that amount, Sanchez loaned himself $200,000. He raised a total of $126,000 from 78 individuals and six Limited liability company (LLCs).[16]

The FEC sent the Sanchez campaign a letter indicating that his July Quarterly Report included "one or more contributions that appear to exceed the limits" of federal law.[17] Sanchez accepted two donations from a Limited Liability Company in addition to donations from the LLC's owner.

Sanchez's campaign raised $164,059.79 in contributions[18] other than loans during the third quarter,[19] compared to $231,144.00 raised by Greg Sowards[20] and $532,228.18 raised by Heather Wilson.[21] New Mexico political blogger Heath Haussamen concluded that Sanchez "hasn’t proven that he can raise or spend the money to compete."[22] National Journal included Sanchez in its "Losers" section for Senate fundraising during the quarter.[18] Sanchez latest disclosure [19] shows that his campaign has raised a net of $31,293 ($248,898 latest cash on hand; $217,605 debts owed), compared to Sowards'[20] -$366,869 ($496,732 cash on hand; $863,601 debts owed) and Wilson's[21] $952,898 ($952,898 cash on hand; $0 debts owed).

The Sanchez campaign received an endorsement from U.S. Senator Rand Paul in late September 2011.[23] Paul's endorsement was announced quickly after Sanchez's primary election opponent, Greg Sowards, announced his own endorsement from Tea Party icon and former Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle.[24]

Sanchez withdrew his Senate bid on February 9, 2012.[25]

2014 gubernatorial election

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On November 4, 2014, Governor Susana Martinez and Sanchez won re-election against the Democratic ticket of Gary King and his running mate Deb Haaland.

Electoral history

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New Mexico House of Representatives 15th District Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Sanchez 5,083 51
Democratic Raymond Sanchez (inc.) 4,877 49
New Mexico Governor Republican Primary Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Sanchez 55,102 58.53
Republican Walter Bradley 33,206 35.27
Republican Robert Burpo 3,864 4.10
Republican Gilbert Baca 1,979 2.10
New Mexico Governor Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Richardson 268,693 55.49
Republican John Sanchez 189,074 39.05
Green David Bacon 26,465 5.47
New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Republican Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Sanchez 46,129 39.64
Republican Kent Cravens 36,346 31.23
Republican Brian Moore 33,899 29.13

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schirtzinger, Alexa (April 28, 2010). "Race to Replace: Dems and Republicans vie to be NM's next No. 2". Santa Fe Reporter.
  2. ^ "Lt. Gov. John Sanchez (R-NM)". New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  3. ^ Reichbach, Matthew. Sanchez wins GOP lieutenant governor race, New Mexico Independent, June 1, 2010.
  4. ^ "N.M.'s Top Post Part of the Dream". business.highbeam.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  5. ^ "HOUSE BILL 27 : 45TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2002" (PDF). Nmlegis.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 21 : 45TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2001" (PDF). Nmlegis.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "New Mexico Legislature". July 8, 2012. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "New Mexico Legislature". July 6, 2012. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "New Mexico Official 2002 Election Results for GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO". Sos.state.nm.us. November 3, 1999. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  10. ^ "New Mexico Official 2002 Election Results for GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO". Sos.state.nm.us. November 3, 1999. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  11. ^ "Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 1, 2010 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Sos.state.nm.us. June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 21, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  12. ^ "Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 2, 2010 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Sos.state.nm.us. November 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  13. ^ "Lt. Gov. Sanchez announces Senate bid". Story.albuquerqueexpress.com. May 24, 2011. Archived from the original on August 29, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  14. ^ "GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON UNITED STATES SENATE RACE" (PDF). governor.state.nm.us. May 24, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  15. ^ "Sanchez trails Wilson in fundraising for NM Senate seat". thehill.com. July 18, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  16. ^ "JOHN SANCHEZ FOR US SENATE". fec.gov. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
  17. ^ "JULY QUARTERLY REPORT (04/01/2011 – 06/30/2011)" (PDF). Federal Election Commission. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 1, 2015. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  18. ^ a b "Third Quarter Fundraising Winners And Losers: Senate Edition". National Journal. October 17, 2011. Archived from the original on October 20, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-15.
  19. ^ a b "Candidate (S2NM00104) Summary Reports – 2011–2012 Cycle". Federal Election Commission. June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  20. ^ a b "Candidate (S2NM00070) Summary Reports – 2011–2012 Cycle". Federal Election Commission. June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Candidate (S8NM00168) Summary Reports – 2011–2012 Cycle". Federal Election Commission. June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  22. ^ "Frontrunners clear in Senate race, not in CD1". nmpolitics.net. October 17, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  23. ^ "Rand Paul endorses John Sanchez for Senate". Santa Fe Reporter. September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  24. ^ "Sharron Angle endorses in New Mexico Senate race". The Hill. September 27, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  25. ^ "Republican John Sanchez Drops New Mexico Senate Bid". Roll Call. February 9, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
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New Mexico House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
from the 15th district

2001–2003
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of New Mexico
2002
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
2011–2019
Succeeded by