Ron Sparks is what’s wrong with politics today.
Actually, let me rephrase—people not voting for Ron Sparks is what’s wrong with politics today.
Because pretty much everyone used to vote for Sparks. Back before we decided that party was going to matter more than the qualifications of the candidates. Back when doing the job well actually meant something.
In his last race for commissioner of agriculture and industries in 2006, Sparks won 62 of Alabama’s 67 counties and beat his challenger by 20 percentage points. He was loved by farmers from one end of the state to the other. He’s won every major award the Farmers Federation hands out. Was endorsed by them multiple times.
But Sparks is a Democrat in 2026.
And while he hasn’t changed—while his work ethic and know-how and friendly demeanor and knowledge of the position haven’t changed at all—the rest of the state apparently has.
Because against a first-time candidate in a statewide election, Sparks is considered an underdog as he runs to reclaim his old position as agriculture commissioner. Alfa endorsed the other guy. Didn’t even bother to call Sparks and ask for his platform and his ideas.
Nope. All that matters, apparently, is that Sparks today has a D beside his name on the ballot. And we’re living in a time when Rs are dominant.
I want you to stop and consider for a moment just how silly that is. Just how counterproductive it is. Just how damaging it can be.
“People are tired of that,” Sparks said during a recent interview on the “Alabama Politics This Week” podcast. “People are tired of the division. They’re tired of the name calling. They want results. And to get results, you’ve got to have a table of different ideas. We’ve seen what this supermajority can do for the state of Alabama.”
For farmers, it has been a rough ride. The last decade has seen nearly 6,000 farms disappear in the state. We’ve lost farmland, too—about 300,000 acres overall. Bankruptcies have reached historic levels, and current farm debt is at record highs.
At the same time, the Department of Agriculture and Industries has also seemingly contracted, cutting some of the most recognizable and helpful services it once offered. Like its investigations division, which tracked down stolen equipment and livestock. Like its gas inspection division, which tested gas at all pumps to ensure it met standards and you actually got the gallon of gas you paid for.
There also have been few, if any, new approaches flowing from the department to help struggling farmers. Sparks said that all around Alabama, other states, such as Tennessee, have implemented programs that help put money back in farmers’ pockets. They’ve removed taxes from farming equipment—another proposal Sparks has as part of his platform. And they’ve instituted farm-to-table programs that have aided farmers and brought fresh, quality, homegrown products to consumers.
“The state of Tennessee, they have an enhancement program where they’ve (funded) a hundred thousand projects and they put over three hundred million dollars back in the pockets of farmers,” Sparks said. “I want to do those kind of things. I want to take the 1.5-cent sales tax off of farm equipment. I’ve advocated for a long time for us to take the tax off of diesel fuel, which would give a little relief.”
This is what Ron Sparks does.
He sits around all day figuring out ways to do the job better, to help people. But don’t take my word for it. Go look up his record. Talk to people about what he did for catfish farms in the Black Belt or shrimpers along the coast or chicken farmers all over the state when the Russians started undercutting them.
And don’t just talk to Democrats, either. Talk to the Republicans who know Sparks the best.
Like the former governor, whom Sparks ran against, and who ended up appointing Sparks to a task force—a rare showing of bipartisan cooperation and respect in state government. Or how about the former Republican attorney general who has now cut an ad for Sparks? Or the former state legislator who has endorsed him? Or the dozens of registered Republican farmers who are happy to tell you they plan to vote for Sparks.
“I think people have looked at my record for years and years, and they know I’ve never made a decision that’s based on my party affiliation,” Sparks said. “I don’t think you can find anybody who’ll tell you that I told somebody one thing and did another. I treat people with respect regardless of what party you belong to. I use common sense. I work hard. Anybody that knows me knows that my work ethic is over the top. I just want to help people.”
It would be a shame if petty, partisan politics—the very thing that so many people claim to hate so much—were what kept him from it.
