He served as Iowa State Auditor for 26 years from 1939 to 1965.[1]
In 1938, Akers ran against incumbent Democrat Charles W. Storms, Farmer Labor candidate Carl Jorgensen, Progressive candidate Ernest Quick, and Prohibition candidate J. E. Lombard.[2] Akers won 411,946 votes compared to Storms' 358,964 votes, Jorgensen's 5,427 votes, Quick's 1,756 votes and Lombard's 1,015 votes.[2]
In 1940, Akers ran against Democrats J.J. Foarde and W. M. Shaw.[3] Akers won with 225,281 votes compared to Shaw's 59,708 votes and Foarde's 37,404 votes.[3] Akers was re-elected to his second term.[3]
In 1942, Akers ran against Democrat W. M. Shaw, for the second time, Progressive candidate John P. Lynch and Prohibition candidate A. G. Peterson.[4] Akers won with 400,046 votes compared to Shaw's 242,556 votes, Peterson's 1,718 votes and Lynch's 675 votes.[4] Akers was re-elected to his third term.[4]
In 1944, Akers ran against Democrat Peter J. Kies, Socialist candidate Annie M. Prescott and Prohibition candidate L. E. Gifford .[5] Akers won with 538,388 votes compared to Kies' 495,916 votes, Gifford's 2,902 votes and Prescott's 988 votes.[5] Akers was re-elected to his fourth term.[5]
In 1946, Akers ran against Democrat W. A. Yager and Prohibition candidate R. T. Banks.[6] Akers won with 361,888 votes compared to Yager's 218,315 votes and Banks' 2,979 votes.[6] Akers was re-elected to his fifth term.[6]
In 1948, Akers ran against Democrat Philip Keller and Prohibition candidate L. E. Gifford, again.[7] Akers won with 484,509 votes compared to Keller's 439,934 votes and Gifford's 3,122 votes.[7] Akers was re-elected to his sixth term.[7]
In 1950, Akers ran against Democrat Neil B. Little and Prohibition candidate L. E. Gifford, for the third time, and Progressive Democrat John P. Lynch, for a second time.[8] Akers won with 480,909 votes compared to Little's 310,967 votes, Gifford's 3,272 votes and Lynch's 711 votes.[8] Akers was re-elected to his seventh term.[8]
In 1952, Akers ran, for a four-year term for the first time, against Democrat J. Rex Weddle and Prohibition candidate L. E. Gifford, for the fourth time, and Republican Vigilant Party candidate John A. Coleman.[9] Akers won with 720,584 votes compared to Weddle's 435,387 votes, Gifford's 2,114 votes and Coleman's 991 votes.[8] Akers was re-elected to his seventh term.[8]
In 1956, Akers ran against Democrat George J. Eischeid.[10] Akers won with 629,148 votes compared to Eischeid's 515,954 votes.[10] Akers was re-elected to his eighth term.[10]
In 1960, Akers ran against Democrat Robert E. Hutte.[11] Akers won with 638,727 votes compared to Hutte's 557,375 votes.[10] Akers was re-elected to his ninth term and last term.[10]
In 1964, Akers ran against Democrat Lorne R. Worthington and Communist Alvin E. Eliason.[12] Worthington won 609,392 votes against Akers' 493,396 votes and Eliason's 2,192 votes.[12] Worthington was sworn in on January 2, 1965.