The2018 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect theSecretary of Agriculture of Iowa , concurrently with elections to theUnited States House of Representatives ,governor , and otherstate andlocal elections. Primary elections were held on June 5, 2018.[ 1]
IncumbentRepublican secretaryBill Northey resigned in March 2018 after his confirmation by theUnited States Senate as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.Mike Naig was appointed to the seat after Northey's resignation by GovernorKim Reynolds .[ 2] Democratic nominee Tim Gannon in the general election.[ 3]
As no candidate received over 35% of the vote, theIowa Republican Party was required to hold a convention to choose a nominee.[ 4] Mike Naig was chosen as the nominee and had received just shy of the 35% of the vote needed in the primary.[ 5]
Democratic primary results[ 12] Party Candidate Votes % Democratic Tim Gannon 148,258 99.52% Write-in 710 0.48% Rejected ballots 33,768 18.48% Total votes 148,968 100.0%
Post-primary endorsements [ edit ] Mike Naig (R)
Organizations
Iowa Association of Business and Industry[ 14] Iowa Corn Growers Association[ 15] Iowa Farm Bureau[ 16] By congressional district [ edit ] Despite losing the state, Gannon won three of four congressional districts.[ 19]
^ "2018 Primary Elections by State and territory" (PDF) .Marine Corps Installation East . April 6, 2018. RetrievedOctober 16, 2025 .^ Eller, Donnelle (March 1, 2018)."Mike Naig tapped to replace Northey as Iowa's ag secretary" Des Moines Register . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ Eller, Donnelle (November 5, 2018)."Backed by Farm Bureau, Republican Mike Naig defeats Democrat Tim Gannon to win Iowa ag secretary post" Des Moines Register . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 .Supported by the powerful Farm Bureau and large corporations, Republican Mike Naig staved off a strong bid from Democrat Tim Gannon to win the Iowa secretary of agriculture post. ^a b c d Eller, Donnelle (June 6, 2018)."Mike Naig just misses 35 percent of vote, so GOP leaders will choose ag secretary candidate" .Des Moines Register . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ "It's Mike Naig vs. Tim Gannon for Iowa ag secretary" .Farm Progress . June 26, 2018. RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 .^a b "Meet the two contenders for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture" .The Daily Iowan . October 24, 2018. RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 .^ Eller, Donnelle (October 23, 2017)."Former Farm Bureau president Craig Lang to run for Iowa ag secretary" .Des Moines Register . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ Murphy, Erin (January 24, 2018)."Pat Grassley to seek-relection" .The Gazette . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^a b Pfannenstiel, Brianne (October 17, 2018)."Tim Gannon, a Democrat, launches TV ads in bid for Iowa secretary of agriculture" Des Moines Register . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 .Gannon, a Democrat, is a farmer and former official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ^ Lynch, James (March 6, 2018)."Bill Northey endorses his successor for election to Iowa ag post" .The Gazette . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ Noble, Jason (September 13, 2017)."Family first: Chuck Grassley will back Pat Grassley for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture" .Des Moines Register . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^a b "State of Iowa - Canvass State" (PDF) .Iowa Secretary of State . pp. 68– 71. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ Geiger, David (November 6, 2018)."Three candidates for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture" .KCRG 9.2 . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ "ABI PAC Endorses Friends of Iowa Business" .Iowa Association of Business and Industry . October 12, 2018. RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 .^ Swoboda, Rod (September 20, 2018)."Iowa Corn PAC endorses candidates" .Farm Progress . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ Wheeler, Andrew (September 5, 2018)."Iowa Farm Bureau names Governor Kim Reynolds and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig 'Friend of Agriculture' .Iowa Farm Bureau . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ Opsahl, Robin (August 1, 2018)."Former President Obama endorsed Iowans for secretary of state and secretary of agriculture" .Des Moines Register . RetrievedOctober 17, 2025 . ^ "IA - Election Night Reporting" .Iowa Secretary of State . December 4, 2018. RetrievedOctober 18, 2025 .^ https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=834955
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County results
Congressional district results
