Secretary of State of Iowa · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Iowa secretary of state race?
Paul Pate has the strongest record in the Iowa secretary of state race. Paul Pate scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Paul Pate's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ryan Peterman (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
Paul Pate
On the ballot as Paul D. Pate
60 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 50
Democratic
Ryan Peterman
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 69
- 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.
Paul Pate
- Mark against2019-01-14
His office failed to publish required notice of two constitutional amendments passed in 2018, restarting the amendment process; he said he accepted full responsibility and apologized.
Sources: CBS News (AP), Jan. 14, 2019, Governing
- On the record2026-03
His office gave the U.S. Justice Department Iowa's voter registration list in March 2026, including driver's license numbers and partial Social Security numbers, after consulting the Attorney General's Office.
Sources: The Gazette, July 22, 2026, Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, Aug. 15, 2026
- On the record2026-09-17
A State Auditor report found salaries in his office rose 10% over 10 years in inflation-adjusted terms while executive branch salaries overall fell 7.6%.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by Yahoo News, Sept. 17, 2026
- On the record2024-10 to 2026-02
Two weeks before the 2024 election directed county auditors to challenge ballots of 2,022 voters flagged as possible noncitizens; naturalized citizens sued, and the suit settled in February 2026 limiting use of driver's license data.
Sources: Iowa Public Radio, Oct. 31, 2024, AP, as published by KCRG, Feb. 11, 2026
- On the record2017-07-01
Announced Iowa would give President Trump's Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity only publicly available voter information, citing Iowa law barring release of data such as Social Security numbers.
Source: Ballotpedia, Paul Pate
- Credit2019-02-13
His office won a U.S. Election Assistance Commission national award for the Helping Veterans and Iowans with Disabilities Vote Project he launched in 2015.
- Credit2019-07
Inducted as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State for 2019 to 2020; his office received the association's 2019 IDEAS Award for an election cybersecurity partnership.
Sources: NASS, July 8, 2019, NASS, July 9, 2019
Ryan Peterman
- On the record2026-07-22
Announced at a July 22, 2026 Capitol news conference that he would file a public records request with the Secretary of State's office about its voter data handover to the Justice Department.
Source: The Gazette, July 22, 2026
- On the record2026-08-15
Spoke and took audience questions at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 15, 2026.
Source: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, Aug. 15, 2026
- On the record2025-05-20
Spent a year as a legislative fellow for U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, May 20, 2025
- Credit2025-05-20
Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served 10 years as a Navy helicopter pilot, then returned to the Academy as an honor education officer.
Sources: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, May 20, 2025, KTIV (Gray Media Iowa), May 20, 2025
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Paul Pate. Secretary of State since 2015 with no ethics board or court finding against him found. PolitiFact lists no rated statements. A 2024 federal voting suit against him settled in 2026 without a finding (Record).
Ryan Peterman. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Paul Pate. On July 1, 2017 announced Iowa would give President Trump's election integrity commission only publicly available voter information, not the full data it requested.
Source: Ballotpedia, Paul Pate
Ryan Peterman. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Paul Pate. Takes part in public candidate events, including the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox in August 2026, and news interviews. No 2026 debate with his opponent was found.
Sources: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, Aug. 15, 2026, KCCI, Sept. 23, 2026
Ryan Peterman. Spoke and took questions at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox on Aug. 15, 2026, and lists county town halls on his campaign site. No 2026 debate with his opponent was found.
Sources: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, Aug. 15, 2026, Peterman campaign site
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Paul Pate. State senator, mayor of Cedar Rapids and Secretary of State for a combined 15 years, with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: KCCI, Sept. 23, 2026
Ryan Peterman. Ten years as a Navy helicopter pilot after the Naval Academy and later an officer at the Academy, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, May 20, 2025
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Paul Pate. Sworn Secretary of State, Iowa's chief election official, with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results. The 2024 suit over his voter citizenship challenges settled in February 2026 without a court finding.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Paul Pate, AP, as published by KCRG, Feb. 11, 2026
Ryan Peterman. Served 10 years as a commissioned Navy officer and pilot with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, May 20, 2025
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Paul Pate. Iowa Secretary of State since January 2015, three full terms, and earlier from 1995 to 1999. Also a former state senator and mayor of Cedar Rapids.
Source: NASS, July 8, 2019
Ryan Peterman. Navy helicopter pilot for 10 years, Naval Academy honor education officer and a one-year legislative fellow for U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. No election administration or elected office experience.
Source: Iowa Capital Dispatch, as published by KCCI, May 20, 2025
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Paul Pate. Sitting Secretary of State in his third term who served as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State for 2019 to 2020, and who cites specific election security measures in office.
Sources: NASS, July 8, 2019, KCCI, Sept. 23, 2026
Ryan Peterman. Proposes specific changes: longer Election Day voting hours, letting county auditors mail absentee ballots before the voting window opens, an Election Day state holiday, and a modernized business services website.
Source: KCCI, Sept. 23, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Paul Pate. Two channels documented: a campaign site describing his record and public candidate events with news interviews. No 2026 voter questionnaire answer was found.
Sources: Pate campaign site, KCCI, Sept. 23, 2026
Ryan Peterman. Three channels documented: campaign site statement of why he is running, the Register Soapbox speech with questions, and campaign town halls.
Sources: Peterman campaign site, Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, Aug. 15, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Paul Pate. Born in Ottumwa, Iowa; former Cedar Rapids mayor and state senator. In-state donor share not computed.
Source: Ballotpedia, Paul Pate
Ryan Peterman. Grew up in Bettendorf and lives in Davenport. In-state donor share not computed.
Source: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, Aug. 15, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Paul Pate. Has run the Secretary of State's office since 2015; NASS members gave the office its 2019 IDEAS Award for an election cybersecurity partnership. Office staff size not sourced.
Source: NASS, July 9, 2019
Ryan Peterman. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Paul Pate. His office won the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's 2019 national award for a project helping veterans and Iowans with disabilities vote, and the 2019 NASS IDEAS Award for an election cybersecurity partnership.
Sources: U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Feb. 13, 2019, NASS, July 9, 2019
Ryan Peterman. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Paul Pate. In January 2019 his office failed to publish required newspaper notice of two proposed constitutional amendments passed in 2018, resetting both; he accepted full responsibility.
Sources: CBS News (AP), Jan. 14, 2019, Governing
Ryan Peterman. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Paul Pate. No public record found.
Ryan Peterman. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Paul Pate. Elected by members of the bipartisan National Association of Secretaries of State to serve as its president for 2019 to 2020.
Source: NASS, July 8, 2019
Ryan Peterman. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Paul Pate. No public record found.
Ryan Peterman. 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 state race?
Paul Pate has the strongest record in the Iowa secretary of state race. Paul Pate scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Paul Pate's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ryan Peterman (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 state race in 2026?
Paul Pate (Republican, incumbent), Ryan Peterman (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Paul Pate a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Paul Pate scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Ryan Peterman a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Ryan Peterman 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 Iowa race scored, and the Iowa 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.