Secretary of State of Iowa
Paul Pate
Iowa Secretary of State (since 2015)RINCUMBENT
- Race
- Secretary of State of Iowa
- Election
- 2026-11-03
- Opponent
- Ryan Peterman (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
Paul Pate is Iowa's Republican Secretary of State and is seeking re-election in 2026. A small business owner by background, he has held the office from 1995 to 1999 and again since 2015. He says he is running on a layered approach to election security, including voter ID, paper ballots and post-election audits, alongside business-filing modernization.[1][2][3]
On the ballotSecretary of State
2026-11-03
| Paul Pate R | incumbent |
| Ryan Peterman D | challenger |
Advanced unopposed from the June 2 Republican primary.
Biography
Paul Pate is Iowa's Republican Secretary of State and is seeking re-election in 2026. A small business owner by background, he has held the office from 1995 to 1999 and again since 2015. He says he is running on a layered approach to election security, including voter ID, paper ballots and post-election audits, alongside business-filing modernization.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Pate was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, and earned an associate degree from Kirkwood Community College in 1978.[2] He works as a small business owner and describes himself as the third-generation owner of his family's asphalt business.[2][3]
Pate first served as Iowa Secretary of State from 1995 to 1999, and he took the office again on January 1, 2015.[2] In his Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey he says he also served as a state senator and as a mayor.[3] He says he earned a CERA election-administration designation while in office.[3]
Pate cites among his accomplishments a Fast Track Filing system that he says cut business filing times from weeks to minutes, a redesigned website and a 24-hour call center.[3] He also says he worked with the legislature to create Safe at Home, an address confidentiality program for survivors of violent crime.[3] Pate won the June 2, 2026 Republican primary and faces Democrat Ryan Peterman in the November 3 general election.[1]
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
- action2026-08-03 · The office was recognized by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission with a Clearie Award and by the National Association of Secretaries of State as an IDEAs finalist (announced August 3, 2026).[4]
- action2026-09-02 · Selected as co-chair of the National Association of Secretaries of State Business Services Committee for 2026-27.[5]
- action2026-09-15 · Issued a September 2026 notice that Iowans may begin voting absentee October 14 for the November 3 general election, by mail or in person.[6]
In their own words
Priorities
- Voter participation and election integrity together, with a 'layered approach': voter ID, paper ballots, post-election audits, pre-election equipment testing, absentee ballot tracking and bipartisan poll workers.[7]
- Modernize business filings: he cites Fast Track Filing, a redesigned website and a 24/7 call center.[7]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/paul-pate
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Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Iowa Secretary of State election, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 2.Paul Pate · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey: Paul Pate (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026 Candidate's own words
- 4.Iowa Secretary of State Receives Recognition from Nation's Leading Election Administration Organizations · Iowa Secretary of State · 2026-08-03 Official record
- 5.Secretary Pate to Co-Chair National Business Services Committee · Iowa Secretary of State · 2026-09-02 Official record
- 6.Secretary Pate Encourages Iowans to Make a Plan to Vote in 2026 General Election · Iowa Secretary of State · 2026-09-15 Official record
- 7.Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey: Paul Pate (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026 Candidate's own words