A Democrat has entered the race for Secretary of Agriculture.Chris Jones, of Iowa City, told KCCI on Friday that he’s running for the seat held by Republican Mike Naig. Jones is a former University of Iowa researcher and leads the Driftless Water Defenders group. He said he’s motivated to run because of the state’s water quality and the role agriculture plays.Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Naig as Secretary of Agriculture in the spring of 2018 after then-Ag Secretary Bill Northey took a job as undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Naig retained office by winning the election in 2018; he was reelected in 2022. Jones earned a degree in chemistry and biology from Simpson College. He went on to get his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry. He has also worked with Des Moines Water Works, the Iowa Soybean Association and as a researcher and professor at the University of Iowa. » Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
A Democrat has entered the race for Secretary of Agriculture.
Chris Jones, of Iowa City, told KCCI on Friday that he’s running for the seat held by Republican Mike Naig.
Jones is a former University of Iowa researcher and leads the Driftless Water Defenders group. He said he’s motivated to run because of the state’s water quality and the role agriculture plays.
Gov. Kim Reynolds appointed Naig as Secretary of Agriculture in the spring of 2018 after then-Ag Secretary Bill Northey took a job as undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Naig retained office by winning the election in 2018; he was reelected in 2022.
Jones earned a degree in chemistry and biology from Simpson College. He went on to get his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry. He has also worked with Des Moines Water Works, the Iowa Soybean Association and as a researcher and professor at the University of Iowa.
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