Rob Sand wins Iowa governorship as Iowa's first Democratic governor since 2006

Sand inherits a Republican-controlled Legislature when he takes office in January

Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand defeated Republican businessman Zach Lahn in Iowa’s race for governor on Nov. 3, according to an Associated Press race call. Sand, 44, is a two-term state auditor and will become the first Democrat elected to the Iowa governorship since Chet Culver in 2006, ending the Republican hold on the office dating to 2011. He will succeed Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who decided not to seek another term.

Sand takes office in January, but Republicans hold majorities in both the Iowa House and Senate. Advancing his agenda will require working with a Republican-controlled Legislature.

Donald Trump carried Iowa by more than 13 percentage points in 2024 and endorsed Lahn. In 2022, Sand narrowly won reelection as auditor and was the only Democrat holding statewide office. Sand has talked for years about how his Christianity informs his policy and sometimes said in his campaign, “Jesus is for the little guy.”

Before becoming state auditor, Sand served as an assistant attorney general and led the investigation and prosecution of the largest lottery-rigging scheme in U.S. history, involving manipulated jackpots across five states. He ran on government accountability and cooperation across party lines.

Lahn was a first-time candidate who emphasized his business experience. He previously worked for Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group associated with the Koch family, and co-founded Wonder, a private school in Wichita, Kansas.

The candidates differed on education. Sand criticized Iowa’s education savings account, or voucher, program, which uses public money to help families pay private school tuition, and called for greater investment in public schools. Lahn defended the program, saying parents deserve more choices in their children’s education.

Sand also campaigned on affordability and expanding access to health care, calling for an end to Medicaid privatization.

The governor’s race was expensive. Campaign finance reports covering mid-July through mid-October showed the candidates spent more than $46 million, with Sand accounting for about $29 million of that spending. Lahn raised slightly more during that period, with most of his cash contributions coming from the Republican Governors Association’s Right Direction PAC. Sand also received millions from the Democratic Governors Association.

Both candidates raised concerns about water quality and Iowa’s high cancer rates. Iowa has the nation’s second-highest rate of new cancer diagnoses.

Sheila Brummer reports for Iowa Public Radio.