From Ballotpedia
The Agriculture Commissioner is a state level position in all 50 states. The duties of the position vary from state to state, but their general role is regulation of various facets of the agriculture industry as well as promotion of state agribusiness.
Elected vs. appointed
As it currently stands, there are only two ways in which an individual is able to be selected to assume the role of State Agriculture Commissioner - by either being publicly elected by the people of the state through the primary/general election processes, or by being appointed by the governor.
And while the vast majority of the states that do have the statewide governmental position authorize the governor to appoint an individual to the office, there are at least twelve others who have opted to have public voters select the office holders. These states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, and West Virginia.
The current party breakdown of State Agriculture Commissioners based on whether they are elected by the general public or appointed by the governor of an individual state shows that:
- The eleven states in which Republicans have been elected to the statewide position include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Texas.
- West Virginia is the only state in which a Democrat has been selected by the people as office holder.
- Governors in the other 38 states are authorized to appoint individuals as Agriculture Commissioners.
- 21 are Democrats. These states include Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming.
- The other 17 are Republican appointees. These states include Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Currently appointed
Currently elected
External links
| Agriculture Commissioners |
|---|
| | Elected (by voters) | | | | Appointed (by gov.) | | | | Elections | | | | Other | |
|
Republican
Democratic
