Republican Mike Naig is projected to retain his position as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, defeating Democratic challenger Chris Jones in Tuesday’s general election.
According to unofficial results from the Associated Press early Wednesday, Naig received approximately 53% of the vote compared to 47% for Jones, with an estimated 96% of votes counted.
Jones conceded the race Tuesday evening during an election watch party in Des Moines. His campaign focused heavily on improving Iowa’s water quality and changing the state’s agricultural practices.
Jones, a former University of Iowa research engineer, advocated for expanding crop diversity, developing new markets for Iowa farmers and increasing the use of locally produced food in school meals. He also argued that changes were needed in Iowa’s current agricultural system, which relies heavily on corn and soybean production.
During his remarks, Jones said water quality improvements would require significant public support and continued efforts beyond the election.
Naig has served as Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture since 2018. During his time in office, he has supported initiatives including Choose Iowa, a state program promoting Iowa-made products, and the Farm-to-Faucet legislation approved in 2026, which expanded state support for conservation practices and water treatment infrastructure.
Following the election results, Naig released a statement thanking Iowans for their support and saying he looked forward to continuing his work on behalf of Iowa agriculture.
Naig said his priorities include expanding agricultural markets, working to improve water quality, protecting Iowa’s food supply and supporting the state’s farming industry.
Iowa has had a Republican serving as Secretary of Agriculture since 2007, when Patty Judge left the position.
The election results remain unofficial pending certification.
