Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate Plans Reelection Bid 2026

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced he is running for re-election in 2026, seeking a fifth term in office. Pate emphasized his commitment to maintaining election integrity, highlighting Iowa's recognition as a top state for election administration, cybersecurity, and voter outreach. He credited his office's initiatives such as voter ID laws, post-election audits, paper ballots, and expanded voter registration opportunities for 17-year-olds in strengthening both election security and voter participation. Pate also stressed the importance of combating misinformation and ensuring public trust in election outcomes to uphold democracy. Beyond elections, he noted improvements in services for Iowa businesses under his leadership. His current term ends in January 2027, and he faces a Democratic challenger, Ryan Peterman, in the upcoming election.