Scientist was pushed out for studying Iowa's water. Now he's running to regulate it.

Chris Jones, the 65-year-old Democratic nominee for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, is campaigning on water quality after being pushed out of his earlier research role. He and his team kayaked about 100 miles down the Des Moines River for six days in early September, launching in Emmetsburg and traveling to Des Moines, with stops at county park pavilions, small-town bars and trailheads. Jones says the trip is essentially a low-budget TV substitute to highlight Iowa’s water problems, citing drainage ditches, tile systems and discoloration. He previously resigned from the University of Iowa over legislative criticism and threats to cut funding for water quality monitoring, and authored “The Swine Republic” in 2023. The issue is now central to Iowa politics, including the governor’s race between Rob Sand and Zach Lahn and recent polls showing voters in contested congressional districts prioritize water pollution and industrial agriculture reform.