As the midterm elections approach, ads for political candidates flood the airwaves. However, agriculture appears to be a minimized factor in the 2022 election cycle.

While agricultural issues remain important, Iowa State University political science professor Steffen Schmidt said they aren’t being focused on as a partisan issue for many races. He said there may be differences in approach from the respective parties, but ultimately both are looking for the same end goal.

In a state that has become solidly blue, Illinois Republicans have muted expectations this election year.

The gubernatorial race has an agricultural back story in that the Republican nominee, Darren Bailey, is a full-time farmer. Bailey grows corn and soybeans on his farm in Xenia, in Clay County.

Two years ago, Missouri’s farms were dotted with signs supporting candidates for president and governor, as well as many statewide elected offices and then local races. This fall, the election includes fewer attention-grabbing races, University of Missouri political scientist Peverill Squire says.

“It’s been pretty quiet as a campaign on the whole,” he says.

When Iowa voters step into the booth on Nov. 8, a familiar name will greet them on the ballot.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is running for his eighth term in the U.S. Senate. The New Hartford farmer has been one of Iowa’s two senators since 1981 and said he plans to continue providing support to family farms from Washington.

A major difference in Iowa’s 2022 mid-term elections may not affect voters, but could be felt in the results after Nov. 8.

This is the first year for a set of newly drawn congressional maps in Iowa which changed the borders for the four races being held for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. While all of the incumbents are still running in their districts, it may make for a much closer race for some.