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Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says he’ll seek a fifth term in office in 2026 election

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Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says he’ll seek a fifth term in office in 2026 election


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Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate will seek a fifth term in office.

Pate, a Republican, announced June 14 that he would run for reelection in 2026.

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“I am thrilled to announce that I will once again be running to serve as your secretary of state, because we’re not done yet,” said Pate in a video announcing his candidacy.

In his announcement, Pate detailed key accomplishments the state has achieved under his leadership.

“Throughout my life as a public servant, I’ve been guided by three core principles: service, participation and integrity,” Pate said. “During my time as Iowa Secretary of State, we’ve broken numerous records for voter registration and participation, we’ve been recognized as a top state for election administration and integrity and even earned awards for cyber security measures, accessibility for the disabled community, and poll worker recruitment and voter outreach.”

He went on to discuss the importance of secure elections and promised to continue his mission of ensuring “every Iowa business thrives (and) every eligible vote counts.”

Pate previously served as Iowa’s secretary of state from 1995-1999. He lost a primary bid for the Republican nomination for governor in 1998 and served as mayor of Cedar Rapids from 2002-2006.

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He ran again for secretary of state in 2014 before running for the office again in 2014. He won reelection in 2018 and 2022.

The most recent election saw Pate defeat Democrat Joel Miller with 60% of the vote, compared to Miller’s 39.9%.  His current term will end on January 1, 2027.

Pate has supported several changes to Iowa’s election laws during his terms in office. Most recently, he backed a bills that give his office more tools to verify a voter’s citizenship status and standardizes recount procedures.

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The legislation comes in response to the chaotic weeks leading up to the 2024 election, when Pate instructed county auditors to challenge the ballots of 2,176 registered voters who he suspected were not citizens based on a faulty list from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Ultimately, his office found 277 noncitizens on Iowa’s voter rolls, including 35 noncitizens who successfully voted in the 2024 election and five more who tried to vote but had their ballots rejected. 

The last-minute moves faced criticism and legal challenges.

Throughout his career, Pate has also served as a state senator and president of the Iowa League of Cities. He was unanimously elected president of the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2019, according to his campaign website, pateforiowa.com.

“I’m Paul Pate, your secretary of state,” the video concluded. “And I’m asking for your vote.”

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Norah Judson is a reporter for the Register. Reach her at njudson@gannett.com.



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Well Known & Highly Respected Businessman From Spencer & Iowa Great Lakes Passes Away – Explore Okoboji

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(Spencer)– A well known and highly respected businessman in Spencer and the Iowa Great Lakes Area has passed away.

Toby Shine joined Shine Brothers full time in 1960. He later went on to start up a wire cutting and auto shredding business in Spencer in the mid 1980’s, serving as owner and President of the company. Shine was also very active in the Spencer and Iowa Great Lakes communities. He developed the Pelican Ridge housing development on the east side of Arnolds Park and later went on to build and operate a vintage car restoration business and museum just off Highway 86 in West Okoboji. Shine was also known for his involvement in philanthropy and played a major role with the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation’s Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute.

Funeral arrangements for Toby Shine are pending with Warner Funeral Home in Spencer.



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When will SNAP benefits be released? Iowa HHS provides update on November benefits

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When will SNAP benefits be released? Iowa HHS provides update on November benefits


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The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history ended late Thursday, Nov. 12, and many Iowans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are wondering when they will receive their next payments.

Amid the shutdown, the Trump administration paused SNAP payments on Nov. 1 for approximately 12% of Americans, or 41.7 million people, who rely on cash cards known as Electronic Benefits Transfer to purchase food. States then sued the administration, sparking a back-and-forth in courts before eventually reaching the Supreme Court.

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Here’s the latest on SNAP benefits resuming with the government reopening.

When will November SNAP benefits be available in Iowa?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the SNAP program, gave the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services the green light to issue full SNAP benefits for November, according to Iowa HHS.

“Benefits are being loaded onto cards now and could be available later today, Thursday, Nov. 13,” according to Iowa HHS’ website. “Iowa HHS anticipates that all SNAP benefits will be issued by Friday, Nov. 14.”

What is the Iowa EBT balance phone number?

Iowans can check their EBT balance by calling 1-800-359-5802 or by logging in to their EBT account online or through the ConnectEBT mobile app.

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Who’s eligible for SNAP benefits in Iowa?

To be eligible for SNAP, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen national of the U.S.
  • You must be a resident of Iowa
  • You must meet income guidelines for gross and net income limits
  • You must provide a Social Security number or proof that you have applied for one
  • You must live in a legal SNAP household. This is defined as people who live together, buy food together, and prepare meals together

How much money you receive from SNAP is determined by how much you earn from your job, as well as other income you may receive, such as Social Security. The number of people who live with you also determines how much money you may receive.

How many Iowans have received SNAP benefits this year?

More than 267,000 Iowans received $45 million worth of SNAP benefits in May, according to the USDA.

USA TODAY reporter Mary Walrath-Holdridge contributed to this report.

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Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.



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Crooks sets program record with 43 points to power No. 16 Iowa State women past Valparaiso 97-50

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Crooks sets program record with 43 points to power No. 16 Iowa State women past Valparaiso 97-50


AMES, Iowa (AP) — Audi Crooks set a program record with 43 points in just 20 minutes for No. 16 Iowa State in a 97-50 rout over Valparaiso on Wednesday in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Crooks set the program’s single-game record on a free throw with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter, passing Tonya Burns’ mark of 42 against Nebraska on Jan. 18, 1984. Crooks scored the first six points of the fourth for a 73-42 lead before being subbed out.

Crooks, who also added seven rebounds and a block, extended her streak of scoring in double figures to 71 straight games on 18-of-23 shooting. It’s the longest active streak in NCAA women’s basketball and the longest in Cyclones history.

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Crooks poured in 22 points in the first half, leading a 33-10 run and giving the Cyclones (3-0) a 43-22 lead at the break.

Addy Brown was the second-leading scorer for the Cyclones with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, with seven rebounds and four assists. Brown also went over 1,000 career points. Jada Williams notched her first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 assists, along with three steals.

Milana Nenadic was the lone double-digit scorer for the Beacons (0-3), tallying 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting with six rebounds and a couple of steals.

The Cyclones offense was 53.4% from the field (39 for 73), while holding the Beacons to 29% (18 for 62). It marks four consecutive games with 85 points or more to begin the season, and an average of 44.5 points per game allowed.

Up next

Valparaiso: The Crusaders will host Milwaukee on Sunday.

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Iowa State: The Cyclones face Norfolk State at home on Sunday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball



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