Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Iowa secretary of agriculture race?
Mike Naig has the strongest record in the Iowa secretary of agriculture race. Mike Naig scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Mike Naig's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Chris Jones (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.
Democratic
Chris Jones
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Mike Naig
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 63
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.
Chris Jones
- On the record2026-10-02
Debated Naig on Iowa Press on Oct. 2, 2026, proposing taxpayer-funded 'off ramps' for farmers to move away from corn, soybeans and ethanol.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026
- On the recordbefore 2023
Worked as a University of Iowa research engineer managing a statewide water quality sensor network, ran the Des Moines Water Works testing lab, and was an Iowa Soybean Association environmental scientist.
- On the record2023
Published The Swine Republic: Struggles with the Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality in 2023 and helped found the advocacy group Driftless Water Defenders.
- On the record2021
In 2021 described many grain farmers as wealthy 'older white guys' who work a few weeks a year; in 2026 said the remark was meant to describe low labor hours in corn and soybean farming.
Source: KTVO
Mike Naig
- On the record2026-10-02
On Iowa Press called President Trump's plan to increase beef imports below market price a 'bad idea.'
Source: Iowa Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
- On the record2018-03
Appointed Secretary of Agriculture by Gov. Kim Reynolds in March 2018 to replace Bill Northey, then elected to full terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mike Naig
- On the record2013 to 2018
Was manager of government affairs for Monsanto and held policy roles with agriculture trade groups before serving nearly five years as deputy secretary of agriculture.
- Credit2026
Backed the Farm to Faucet water quality package signed into law in 2026, expected to drive nearly $320 million over 12 years to monitoring, treatment upgrades and conservation.
Source: Iowa Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. Secretary of Agriculture since March 2018 with no ethics board, court or campaign finance finding naming him found, and no fact-check rating found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mike Naig
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. On Iowa Press in October 2026 called President Trump's plan to increase beef imports below market price a 'bad idea.'
Source: Iowa Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Chris Jones. Debated his opponent on Iowa Press on Oct. 2, 2026, spoke at the Register Soapbox and answered questions on past remarks in news interviews.
Sources: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026, KTVO
Mike Naig. Debated his opponent on Iowa PBS's Iowa Press on Oct. 2, 2026 and spoke at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox on Aug. 17, 2026.
Sources: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026, Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by Yahoo News, Aug. 17, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Chris Jones. Research engineer at the University of Iowa, manager of the Des Moines Water Works testing laboratory and environmental scientist at the Iowa Soybean Association, with no formal conduct finding found.
Mike Naig. Deputy secretary from 2013 and secretary since 2018, including leading the state's response to avian influenza outbreaks, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. Sworn Secretary of Agriculture since March 1, 2018 with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mike Naig
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Chris Jones. Retired research scientist who studied contaminant hydrology at the University of Iowa and managed a statewide water quality sensor network; no government office or agriculture department experience.
Mike Naig. Secretary of Agriculture since March 2018 (appointed, then elected in 2018 and 2022) after nearly five years as deputy secretary.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mike Naig, Iowa Public Radio, Sept. 30, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Chris Jones. Proposes specific programs, including a local food program with a $10 million annual budget and taxpayer-funded 'off ramps' for farmers moving away from corn, soybeans and ethanol, plus regulation of high-input systems.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026
Mike Naig. Sitting secretary who describes specific department programs: the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, the Cattle and Conservation Working Lands program, Choose Iowa grants for small meat processors and the Farm to Faucet package.
Source: Iowa Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Chris Jones. Several channels documented: completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, debated on Iowa Press, spoke at the Register Soapbox and writes a regular Substack.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Chris Jones (Iowa), Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, Aug. 7, 2026
Mike Naig. Three channels documented: the Iowa Press debate, the Register Soapbox speech and a sit-down interview with Iowa Capital Dispatch. No 2026 Ballotpedia survey answer found.
Sources: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, Aug. 7, 2026, Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by Yahoo News, Oct. 2, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Chris Jones. Has worked on Iowa water quality for decades at Des Moines Water Works, the Iowa Soybean Association and the University of Iowa, and graduated from Simpson College in Indianola. Current hometown not sourced; in-state donor share not computed.
Mike Naig. Grew up in northwest Iowa near Cylinder, where he remains part of the family century farm. In-state donor share not computed.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, Aug. 7, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Chris Jones. Ran the testing laboratory at Des Moines Water Works and co-founded the group Driftless Water Defenders. No campaign finance penalty naming his committee was found.
Mike Naig. Has headed the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship since 2018. Department size and independent performance reviews were not sourced.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. The Farm to Faucet water quality package he backs was signed into law in 2026 and is expected to drive nearly $320 million over 12 years to monitoring, treatment upgrades and conservation.
Source: Iowa Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. One documented bipartisan result: the Farm to Faucet legislative package, described as bipartisan, signed into law in 2026.
Source: Iowa Public Radio, Oct. 2, 2026
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Chris Jones. No public record found.
Mike Naig. 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 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Iowa secretary of agriculture race?
Mike Naig has the strongest record in the Iowa secretary of agriculture race. Mike Naig scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Mike Naig's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Chris Jones (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 Iowa secretary of agriculture race in 2026?
Chris Jones (Democratic), Mike Naig (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Chris Jones a good candidate for Secretary of Agriculture?
Chris Jones 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.
Is Mike Naig a good candidate for Secretary of Agriculture?
Mike Naig scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 63 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 Iowa race scored, and the Iowa 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.