Ryan Peterman
Former U.S. Naval officer and aviator with national-security and legislative experience. Peterman has described service as a naval aviator, Senate defense fellow, and mentor at the U.S. Naval Academy.
2026 Iowa election
Secretary of State candidates
Compare Iowa's 2026 Secretary of State candidates with source-linked biographies, voting records, campaign ads, claims and IA Fact Check context.
Paul Pate
Iowa Secretary of State and former Cedar Rapids mayor/state legislator. Pate’s office administers statewide elections and business filings, making election administration and voter-list policy central to the 2026 contest.