Who is running for Secretary of State (Iowa) in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Secretary of State on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for all voters in Iowa.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Ryan PetermanDemocrat | Paul D. PateRepublican |
|---|---|---|
| Election rules | No single answer fits; see evidence | Photo ID required, with current access otherwiseOfficial action · medium |
Ryan Peterman
DemocratCandidate; former U.S. Navy officer
Ryan Peterman is a Democrat from Bettendorf who served about 10 years as a Navy helicopter pilot after the Naval Academy2. He later worked as a legislative fellow for U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and helped develop officers at the Naval Academy23. He is the Democratic nominee against incumbent Paul Pate1.
Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Election rulesNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- He said he wants to make it easier, not harder, for eligible Iowans to vote while protecting election security. (2025-05-20) source
No public position found on: Redistricting, Ranked-choice voting, Electoral College, Campaign finance, Term limits.
Paul D. Pate
Republican · IncumbentIowa Secretary of State
Paul Pate is the incumbent Republican Iowa Secretary of State; he has held the office for several terms and was earlier mayor of Cedar Rapids and a state legislator2. His office says he put in place Iowa's online voter registration and voter ID requirements2. He faces Democrat Ryan Peterman on the November 3, 2026 ballot1.
Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Election rulesPhoto ID required, with current access otherwisemedium
Official action · medium confidence- His office announced a Voter ID information webpage and said it would mail free Voter ID Cards to registered voters without a driver's license or non-driver ID. (2017-06-15) source
- His office's biography says he instituted Iowa's online voter registration system and voter ID requirements. (2026) source
No public position found on: Redistricting, Electoral College, Campaign finance, Term limits.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.