Former Republican State Representative Mike Ball Endorses Ron Sparks for Commissioner of Agriculture

From the Sparks campaign

October 16, 2026

MONTGOMERY, AL -  Former Republican State Representative Mike Ball, who served District 10 (Limestone and Madison Counties), is crossing party lines to back Sparks. Ball was first elected in 2002, serving 20 years in the State House, before retiring in 2022. He is the latest in a series of prominent Republicans to endorse Sparks, joining former Republican Attorney General Troy King, who crossed party lines to endorse Sparks last month.

Prior to joining the state legislature, Ball had a substantial law-enforcement career: first as a member of the U.S. Marines (1973–77), then as an Alabama State Trooper beginning in 1978, and later a criminal investigator with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation's Major Crimes Unit prior to his election to the State House in 2002.

“We desperately need Ron Sparks as our next Commissioner of Agriculture,” said Mike Ball. “I knew Ron throughout my time in the Alabama state legislature, and he is a man of integrity and honor – with the heart of a public servant.”

“The endorsement from Rep. Ball demonstrates the growing recognition that the agricultural crisis in Alabama needs experience with successfully guiding the state through challenging times,” Sparks said. “I have met with folks across this state who are frustrated by the lack of attention on agriculture and failure to gather a group of all backgrounds to meet the challenges we face. I got in this race because I know what we can offer this state if we work together. I’ll be ready on Day 1 with an incredible, experienced team in place to do the job for the people of Alabama.”

Sparks continued, “The calls I have received from farmers and friends throughout Alabama in the past year have been very difficult to hear. I made the decision that I could not sit on the sidelines and watch my friends and neighbors go broke. Alabama’s farmers need immediate help, and that’s precisely what I will do on the first day I return as Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.”

For more information on Ron Sparks and his campaign, visit https://sparks2026.com.