Iowa agriculture secretary candidate Chris Jones would advocate for ‘environmental justice’ and farming opportunities for Black Iowans

Democrat Chris Jones, who is running for Iowa Agriculture Secretary, responded to Black Iowa News’ 2026 Candidate Questionnaire. Here are his unedited responses.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Black Iowans face challenges involving household income, homeownership, access to capital and business development. What specific policies would you support to expand economic opportunity, increase homeownership and help Black-owned businesses grow and succeed in Iowa?

Jones: Less than 1% of Iowa farmers are People Of Color. This is not an accident as policy dating back to pre-settlement days favored land ownership for white farmers vs farmers of POC. We need intentional state policy that helps recruit POC into the career and helps them get access to land. We have successful black farmers in the Waterloo area growing edible food for local populations. The Meskawki Community also feeds themselves through their own fruit/vegetable/livestock production system. We need to use these examples as templates to expand farming opportunities for POC. This will also help bring diversity to rural Iowa where it is sorely needed.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Black Iowans experience disparities in maternal health, chronic disease and access to affordable, quality health care. What specific actions would you take to address these disparities, improve health outcomes and ensure Black Iowans have access to the care they need?

Jones: One of the first things we can do is improve the diets of the disadvantaged people of our state. We have food deserts in both urban and rural Iowa. Recruiting farmers to grow fresh, healthy food and building the infrastructure to get it to people is a feature of my campaign. Overall, I am a supporter of universal health care and will advocate for that as Secretary of agriculture.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Educational achievement, school funding, access to higher education and the teaching of Black history remain important issues. What policies would you support to improve educational outcomes for Black students, ensure equitable opportunities and prepare young Black Iowans for successful careers and futures in Iowa?

Jones: I am not a supporter of school vouchers and believe our public schools are neglected and underfunded. This needs to be urgently addressed. We also need our state to robustly fund our state universities and community colleges. I am eager to work with the Black community on ideas to get more Black Iowans into agricultural careers, including farming. I think urban farming programs hold promise in areas with numerous POC, such as Waterloo and elsewhere, and could drive economic development in a disadvantage area. These sorts of areas also lack access to retail food establishments, and we need POC to help drive improvements. This will require education and training.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Issues surrounding discrimination, voting rights, policing and criminal justice continue to affect Black communities. What specific actions would you take to protect civil rights, address racial disparities in the justice system and ensure Black Iowans are treated fairly by government institutions?

Jones: In principle I support improved voter access, voting rights, and programs that reduce or eliminate discrimination against Black communities. As Secretary of Agriculture, I will advocate for this and improved quality of life for the Black community and will try to work against environmental injustice that results in POC drinking a lower quality of water than white people in Iowa.

BLACK IOWA NEWS: Why should Black Iowans entrust you with their vote? What in your record demonstrates that you understand the challenges facing Black communities and will take specific actions to improve their lives?

Jones: I have advocated for racial justice in my writing and speaking over the past 20 years, including environmental justice for Black people living downstream and downwind from Iowa’s agricultural production systems. I am also a public advocate for recruiting more POC to farming careers and believe Black farmers can be important contributors to Iowa’s rural areas.