Iowa Auditor Rob Sand Set to Take Governor's Office

Iowa voters are projected to elect state auditor Rob Sand as the next governor on November 3. This outcome would return the governor's office to Democratic control for the first time since 2006. Sand, 44, defeated Republican businessman Zach Lahn to succeed retiring Governor Kim Reynolds.

Sand ran as a moderate in a state that Donald Trump carried by 13 points in the 2024 presidential election. He is currently the only Democrat holding a statewide elected office in Iowa. His victory marks a shift for a party that has struggled to win ground in rural areas during the Trump era.

The general election featured distinct campaign narratives. Sand and his allies repeatedly labeled Lahn a carpetbagger and a part-time Iowan. They noted that Lahn, 40, lived and voted in Kansas until recently and traveled there often during the race. In a debate, Lahn defended those trips by stating, "I have a blended family, and my kids split time."

Lahn attacked Sand in television ads, calling him just like all the other Democrats. During a debate, he described Sand as a liberal billionaire, a reference to his wife, the CEO of her family's company. Lahn also accused the company of polluting Iowa's waterways, a claim Sand rebutted. Lahn sought to tie Sand to out-of-state Democratic positions on immigration, energy, and taxes.

Both campaigns focused heavily on agribusiness pollution and rising cancer rates in the state. Sand told NBC News in October that he believed there was bipartisan agreement on the issue. He said, "It's a really important one for a lot of people in Iowa." Lahn addressed the nitrate load in the water during a debate and pledged to work toward real solutions if elected.

The race involved heavy spending and national attention. Lahn won the Republican primary with backing from members of the Make America Healthy Again movement associated with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. President Trump initially endorsed primary opponent Rep. Randy Feenstra but switched his support to Lahn after the primary. The former president appeared at rallies in Iowa ahead of Election Day.

Economic affordability was a central theme in the general election. Sand pledged to raise the minimum wage and enact policies to make healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable. Lahn promised to support small businesses in the state and cut taxes.