Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says he is weighing a 2026 run and intends to be on the ballot

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said he is weighing a run for governor and intends to be on the ballot in 2026, but has not decided, during an interview on the April 25 edition of Iowa Press.

Naig said the decision came after Gov. Kim Reynolds’ surprise announcement that she will not seek re-election and that he and his family are “pausing and taking a look” before making a commitment. “We want to be thoughtful about it, seeking a lot of advice, praying about it, talking about it as a family,” he said.

Naig said he has been encouraged by supporters but emphasized the decision is not rushed. “If that is Secretary of Agriculture, I will enthusiastically do that. If it’s something else, then we’re going to take a look at that,” he said.

Asked about how a crowded Republican primary might shape up and the influence of former President Donald Trump, Naig said Trump will be “very influential” in the state and that those dynamics will be part of later conversations. He declined to comment on specific other candidates and said he is focused on whether there is a viable pathway for him to run.

On whether his issue set would have to broaden if he ran, Naig said the topics a governor must address extend beyond agriculture and that he is considering how best to serve the state. He reiterated he intends to be on the ballot in 2026 but has not finalized a campaign plan.

David Price, host of Iowa Press, and other interviewers raised the questions; Naig framed his deliberation as a private, family-centered process that is proceeding alongside conversations with supporters.