Incumbent
Paul D. Pate
Incumbent Republican candidate for Secretary of State in Iowa
Incumbent
Iowa Secretary of State winner?
$4.0K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds — Iowa Secretary of State winner?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0%chance to win
$4.0KNOV 7, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleSecretary of State
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyModerate Republican
Age68 years old (May 1, 1958)
GenderMale
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LocationIowa
BackgroundBusiness executive
EducationA.A., Kirkwood Community College
Notable personal detailsPaul Danny Pate Jr. is an American businessman and Republican politician who has served as Iowa Secretary of State since 2015 and previously held the office from 1995 to 1999. He served in the Iowa Senate (1989–1995) and was mayor of Cedar Rapids (2002–2006). He is associated with paving/asphalt-related business leadership and has held roles with national and state organizations connected to election administration.
SourcesShowHide
Political Positions
Immigration & Border
Paul D. Pate has publicly emphasized strict enforcement around citizenship verification, noncitizen voting, and removing noncitizens from Iowa voter rolls. His documented statements focus on using federal tools and referrals to identify and prosecute noncitizens who register or vote, rather than on expanding legal immigration pathways or asylum protections.
Public Safety & Guns
Paul Pate publicly supported the Iowa constitutional amendment to protect the right to keep and bear arms, and he later apologized to gun-rights supporters after his office missed a required publication step that delayed the measure. As secretary of state, he also hosted a ceremony commemorating ratification of the amendment.
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