Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries of Alabama · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries race?
Ron Sparks has the strongest record in the Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries race. Ron Sparks scores 72 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Corey Hill at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Ron Sparks's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Corey Hill's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Corey Hill
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Ron Sparks
72 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 90
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Corey Hill
- On the record2026-08
Publicly questioned the Trump administration's plan to import tariff-free beef, citing uncertainty for cattle farmers.
Source: WSFA, Sept. 1, 2026
- Credit2026-05
Published specific priorities for the department: food safety, Sweet Grown Alabama and a restored rural crime division.
Source: WSFA, May 6, 2026
- Credit2026
Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Corey Hill
- Credit2026-09-21
Discussed his candidacy on Alabama Public Television's Capitol Journal.
- Credit2025-08-07
Was endorsed by the Alabama Grocers Association, which cited his work as mayor on infrastructure and local businesses.
Ron Sparks
- On the record2019-06
Was hired by Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones as regional director for the Middle District of Alabama.
- Credit2026-08-11
Was endorsed by Republican former Attorney General Troy King, who served alongside him.
- Credit2011 to 2016
Directed the Alabama Rural Development Office under Republican Gov. Robert Bentley; Gov. Kay Ivey disbanded the office in 2017.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2019, Alabama Political Reporter, April 18, 2017
- Credit2008
Was elected president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
- Credit2003 to 2011
Served two terms as Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries.
Source: Ballotpedia, Ron Sparks
- Credit1971 to 1975
Served in the U.S. Coast Guard, including the Honor Guard.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Corey Hill. Campaign committee 31660 is registered and reporting with no late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Ron Sparks. Campaign committee 33362 is registered and reporting with no late filing listed; no ethics, court or campaign finance finding found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Corey Hill. Publicly disagreed with the Republican Trump administration's 2026 tariff-free beef import plan, saying it puts cattle farmers in an uncertain market.
Source: WSFA, Sept. 1, 2026
Ron Sparks. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Corey Hill. No public record found.
Ron Sparks. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Corey Hill. Mayor of Douglas, a cattle and poultry farmer and grocery store operator, and a former Marshall County Farmers Federation president; no formal conduct finding found.
Source: WSFA, May 6, 2026
Ron Sparks. Eight years as agriculture commissioner and later director of the governor's Rural Development Office, with no formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Corey Hill. Holds sworn municipal office as mayor of Douglas; no misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: WSFA, May 6, 2026
Ron Sparks. Served in the U.S. Coast Guard (1971 to 1975) and took the oath as DeKalb County commissioner and as agriculture commissioner; no misuse-of-office finding found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Corey Hill. Mayor of Douglas (prior elected office), working cattle and poultry farmer, grocery store operator and former Marshall County Farmers Federation president.
Sources: WSFA, May 6, 2026, Alabama Political Reporter, June 17, 2026
Ron Sparks. Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries for two terms, 2003 to 2011; earlier a DeKalb County commissioner; later Rural Development Office director.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Ron Sparks, Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2019
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Corey Hill. Specific plans within the department's powers: food safety, expanding the Sweet Grown Alabama program and restoring a rural crime division.
Source: WSFA, May 6, 2026
Ron Sparks. Elected president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture in 2008; proposes ending the 1.5 percent state sales tax on farm equipment and restoring fuel testing and the department's law enforcement work.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2019, Alabama Political Reporter, May 15, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Corey Hill. Three channels documented: Ballotpedia survey answered (2026), WSFA candidate interviews (May and Sept. 2026) and an Alabama Public Television Capitol Journal interview (Sept. 2026).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Corey Hill, WSFA, Sept. 1, 2026, Capitol Journal, Alabama Public Television, Sept. 21, 2026
Ron Sparks. Three channels documented: WSFA interview (Sept. 2026), Alabama Public Television Capitol Journal interview (Sept. 2026) and press interviews on his platform (APR, May 2026). Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: WSFA, Sept. 1, 2026, Capitol Journal, Alabama Public Television, Sept. 21, 2026, Alabama Political Reporter, May 15, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Corey Hill. Mayor of Douglas in Marshall County, where he farms and runs a grocery store. About 97.1 percent of itemized individual cash contributions, 2025 to Sept. 2026, came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 17, 2026, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Ron Sparks. Born and raised in Fort Payne, DeKalb County. About 93.1 percent of itemized individual cash contributions in 2026 came from Alabama (FCPA data).
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2019, Alabama FCPA Reporting System, data download
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Corey Hill. Runs a family farm and a grocery store and serves as mayor; campaign committee 31660 has no late filing listed.
Ron Sparks. Ran the state Department of Agriculture and Industries for eight years and later the governor's Rural Development Office; campaign committee 33362 has no late filing listed. Department staff size not found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Ron Sparks, Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2019
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Corey Hill. No public record found.
Ron Sparks. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Corey Hill. No public record found.
Ron Sparks. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Corey Hill. No public record found.
Ron Sparks. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Corey Hill. No public record found.
Ron Sparks. Served five years in Republican Gov. Robert Bentley's administration, and was endorsed in 2026 by Republican former Attorney General Troy King.
Sources: Alabama Political Reporter, June 10, 2019, Alabama Political Reporter, Aug. 11, 2026
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Corey Hill. No public record found.
Ron Sparks. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries race?
Ron Sparks has the strongest record in the Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries race. Ron Sparks scores 72 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Corey Hill at 61, as of October 9, 2026. Ron Sparks's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Corey Hill's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alabama commissioner of agriculture and industries race in 2026?
Corey Hill (Republican), Ron Sparks (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Corey Hill a good candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries?
Corey Hill scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Ron Sparks a good candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries?
Ron Sparks scores 72 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 90 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Alabama race scored, and the Alabama 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.