Iowa Governorship: Rob Sand Defeats Zach Lahn
The state auditor becomes the first Democrat elected to the office in two decades, unseating a Republican challenger in a closely watched swing state contest.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
State Auditor Rob Sand will serve as the next governor of Iowa, according to NBC News projections. At age 44, Sand becomes the first Democrat to hold the office in 20 years. He defeated Republican businessman Zach Lahn in a race to succeed retiring Governor Kim Reynolds.
Sand campaigned as a moderate candidate in a state that Donald Trump won by 13 points in the 2024 presidential election. Before this victory, Sand was the only Democrat holding a statewide elected position in Iowa. His opponents and allies viewed him as a rising figure for a party seeking to recover ground in rural areas during the Trump era.
The general election featured a costly campaign where both candidates attacked their opponent's connection to the state. Sand's team characterized Lahn, 40, as a part-time Iowan and a carpetbagger because he lived and voted in Kansas until recently. Lahn defended his frequent trips to Kansas during a debate, noting that his blended family split time between the two states.
Lahn, who upset Rep. Randy Feenstra in the Republican primary, countered by labeling Sand a liberal billionaire. He referenced Sand's wife, who serves as CEO of her family's company. In television advertisements, Lahn described Sand as being like other Democrats. He also suggested that Sand's wife's company polluted Iowa waterways, a claim Sand rebutted.
Both campaigns focused on agricultural pollution and rising cancer rates in the state. Sand told NBC News in October that he viewed the issue as a place of bipartisan agreement. Lahn noted during a debate that nitrate levels in the water have increased annually for a long time. He stated he would work toward real solutions if elected.
Lahn received support from members of the Make America Healthy Again movement, a group associated with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Donald Trump initially backed Feenstra in the primary but later endorsed Lahn. The former president also attended rallies in Iowa before Election Day.
The candidates also disagreed on economic policies. Sand pledged to raise the minimum wage and lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs. Lahn promised to boost small businesses and reduce taxes in Iowa.
