AG Commissioner Rick Pate is running for Lieutenant Governor

May 29, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate has told reporters that he is running for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama in the Republican primary.

Pate has led the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries since 2019. He is a former Mayor of Lowndesboro, a farmer, and a successful businessman with a landscape company that serves the Montgomery area.

"I feel like I still have something left to give," Pate told 1819 News.

Pate has shown some interest in running for Governor; but dropped that when it became apparent that Tommy Tuberville would run for the office. Pate told the Alabama Gazette that Tuberville's popularity and name recognition makes his nearly impossible to beat.

Pate spoke at length recently with Alabama Gazette Lead Reporter and Content Manager Brandon Moseley and Alabama Political Contributor Publisher Christopher Peeks on their BCS podcast.

"I told Tuberville I was not disappointed at all," said Pate after discussing the Governor's race with Sen. Tuberville. "It's not something that I ever thought about being. I will find something to do."

That something is running for Lieutenant Governor.

Winning the GOP nomination for Lieutenant Governor won't be easy. Secretary of State Wes Allen has already declared his candidacy. So has Lee County Pastor Dean Odle and well-known economic developer Nicole Jones Wadsworth. Former Secretary of State John H. Merrill (R) is reportedly also considering a run for the office.

"It's just an opportunity to serve the public," Pate told 1819 News. "I feel like I've got too much to give to just go to the house and retire, go play golf, (and) hunt."

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R) is term limited from running for the office for a third consecutive term.

"We are relatively big state agency with 350 employees," said Pate of the Department of Agriculture and Industries. "It is much larger than the Lieutenant Governor's office."

"Until I started running for Ag, I never thought about being Commissioner of Agriculture," said Pate.

"I think Alabama is in a pretty good place, the economy is growing," said Pate.

The Republican and Democratic primaries are on May 19, 2026.