Commissioner of Agriculture of Georgia · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Georgia commissioner of agriculture race?
Tyler Harper has the strongest record in the Georgia commissioner of agriculture race. Tyler Harper scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Tyler Harper's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Katherine Juhan-Arnold (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Tyler Harper
68 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
Democratic
Katherine Juhan-Arnold
On the ballot as Katherine E. Juhan-Arnold
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
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.
Tyler Harper
- Credit2026-08-18
As commissioner since 2023, oversaw creation of the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund, restrictions on foreign land ownership and new rules for consumable hemp products.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
- Credit2026-09
Accepted the Atlanta Press Club's Oct. 13, 2026 general election debate for agriculture commissioner.
- Credit2020
Rated Above expectations by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for the 2019 to 2020 Georgia Senate, fourth in the chamber.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Katherine Juhan-Arnold
- Credit2026
Founded Baby Katie's Pharm & Kitchen, a food-access nonprofit.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Tyler Harper. No final order of the state campaign finance commission (2020 to 2026 list) names him or his committee. No ethics or court finding found.
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, Final Orders
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No final order of the state campaign finance commission (2020 to 2026 list) names her or her committee.
Source: Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission, Final Orders
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Tyler Harper. No public record found.
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Tyler Harper. Accepted the Atlanta Press Club's Oct. 13, 2026 agriculture commissioner debate, which every statewide candidate except one or two agreed to attend. Did not respond to a UGA newsroom voter guide.
Sources: Capitol Beat News Service, September 2026, Grady Newsource (University of Georgia), 2026
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. Accepted the Atlanta Press Club's Oct. 13, 2026 agriculture commissioner debate, which every statewide candidate except one or two agreed to attend, and gave interviews to a UGA newsroom voter guide.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Tyler Harper. Ten years in the state Senate and agriculture commissioner since January 2023, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Tyler Harper. Sworn state senator 2013 to 2023 and agriculture commissioner since January 2023. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Tyler Harper. Agriculture commissioner since January 2023 after ten years (five terms) in the Georgia Senate; seventh-generation farmer.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. Founder of Baby Katie's Pharm & Kitchen, a food-access nonprofit, and an environmental engineering assistant; first-time candidate.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Tyler Harper. Sitting commissioner who led agriculture-related committees in the Senate; published priorities on trade, food safety and disaster relief.
Sources: Grady Newsource (University of Georgia), 2026, FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. Published positions on food safety, inspections and data center review in general terms.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Tyler Harper. Two channels documented: a published campaign issues page and the accepted Atlanta Press Club debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Tyler Harper
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. Several channels documented: completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, a UGA newsroom interview and a campaign site with issue pages.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Katherine Juhan-Arnold, Grady Newsource (University of Georgia), 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Tyler Harper. Seventh-generation farmer from Irwin County who grows peanuts, cotton and timber on family land. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. Lifelong Georgia resident; founded a Snellville food-access nonprofit. In-state share of contributions not available from the sources opened.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Tyler Harper. Heads the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the statewide regulator of the state's largest industry, since 2023. Agency headcount and budget were not opened. No campaign finance commission final order names him.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. Founded and runs a food-access nonprofit; size not documented. No campaign finance commission final order names her.
Source: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Tyler Harper. As commissioner, created the Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund and put in place foreign land ownership restrictions and consumable hemp rules. CEL rated him Above expectations in the Senate for 2019 to 2020 (4th, 11 laws).
Sources: FOX 5 Atlanta, Aug. 18, 2026, Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Tyler Harper. No public record found.
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Tyler Harper. No public record found.
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Tyler Harper. No public record found.
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Tyler Harper. No public record found.
Katherine Juhan-Arnold. 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 Georgia commissioner of agriculture race?
Tyler Harper has the strongest record in the Georgia commissioner of agriculture race. Tyler Harper scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Tyler Harper's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Katherine Juhan-Arnold (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Georgia commissioner of agriculture race in 2026?
Tyler Harper (Republican, incumbent), Katherine Juhan-Arnold (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Tyler Harper a good candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture?
Tyler Harper scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Katherine Juhan-Arnold a good candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture?
Katherine Juhan-Arnold has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
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 Georgia race scored, and the Georgia 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.