Paul D. Pate

There are no reported criminal indictments, charges, convictions, or findings of corruption, bribery, or financial fraud against Paul D. Pate. In 2018, Pate faced controversy after a review by the Associated Press revealed he failed to disclose his role in multiple business ventures, including a real estate company and storage businesses, on his annual ethics filing. Pate initially labeled the reports as false, but subsequently amended his financial disclosure form to include the entities. The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board did not take formal enforcement action, with the executive director noting that the initial filing was not out of the norm for state officials. Separately, Pate has faced political criticism regarding his administration of Iowa elections. In 2024, he directed county auditors to challenge the ballots of over 2,000 registered voters based on historical Department of Transportation data suggesting potential non-citizenship. While a federal judge allowed the ballot challenges to proceed, the process drew criticism for being overly broad and placing burdens on eligible naturalized citizens, a number of whom successfully verified their status to vote. In 2026, Pate faced further criticism for complying with a U.S. Department of Justice request for voter registration data, which included personally identifiable information.