Governor of Iowa · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Iowa governor's race?
Rob Sand has the strongest record in the Iowa governor's race. Rob Sand scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Zach Lahn at 58, as of October 6, 2026. Rob Sand's highest marks are accountability and relevant experience. Zach Lahn's highest marks are command of the job and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Zach Lahn
Running mate: Derek Wulf
58 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Strongest record
Rob Sand
Running mate: Dave Muhlbauer
69 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 60
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Zach Lahn
- On the record2026-06 to 2026-09
Says he moved fully back to Iowa in 2023 but keeps a home in Kansas and flies there often to see children; in September 2026 the Daily Beast reported 2025 fitness-app rides recorded at the Kansas home.
Sources: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026, The Daily Beast, Sept. 25, 2026
- On the record2026-09-17
PolitiFact Iowa rated False his August 2026 ad claim that Rob Sand wants to raise Iowans' taxes by $7,500 a year.
Source: PolitiFact Iowa, as published by The Daily Iowan, Sept. 17, 2026
- On the record2026-10-04
A KCRG fact check of his ad on Sand's relatives' company found the $13 million donation figure accurate and the company's fertilizer to be an organic garden product, not a farm nitrate fertilizer.
Source: KCRG, Oct. 4, 2026
- On the record2014 to 2015
Worked as Montana state director for Americans for Prosperity, a political advocacy group, from 2014 to 2015, and as a Republican campaign staffer.
Source: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026
- Credit2026-06
Co-founded, with his wife, Homeplace Ventures, which invests in agriculture, real estate and technology, and the Wonder private school in Wichita, Kansas, per the Des Moines Register.
Sources: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Zach Lahn
Rob Sand
- Unresolved2024-04-26
The Kirkwood Institute sued his office over 10 withheld emails; on April 26, 2024 the Iowa Supreme Court reversed in part and sent the case back to district court to decide whether the law was violated.
Where it stands: Remanded to Polk County District Court in April 2024; no later ruling was found.
Sources: Iowa Judicial Branch, Case No. 23-0201, Iowa Public Radio, April 29, 2024
- On the record2026-09-14
Restated support for restrictions on transgender athletes in girls' sports at a Johnson County town hall on Sept. 14, 2026, where an attendee shouted at him.
Source: Yahoo News, Oct. 4, 2026
- On the record2026-10-04
His wife's relatives, owners of the Ankeny-based Lauridsen Group, have given his campaigns a combined $13.1 million since 2018, per KCRG's review of campaign finance records.
Source: KCRG, Oct. 4, 2026
- On the record2025-12-05
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 5, 2025 that his office could use its own lawyers, not the Attorney General's, in its case seeking Davenport closed-session records.
Source: KCRG, Dec. 5, 2025
- On the record2024-10-21
After Republican leaders faulted his office for not reporting a $53 million Judicial Branch fee misallocation found in 2022, he replied that state law barred releasing unpublished audit work.
Source: KCRG, Oct. 21, 2024
- Credit2026-06-22
Announced a coalition of more than 100 registered Republicans backing his campaign, including former Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh.
Source: Council Bluffs Nonpareil, as published by The Gazette, June 22, 2026
- Credit2026-09-30
Completed a second campaign tour of open town halls in all 99 Iowa counties on Sept. 30, 2026.
Sources: KWQC, Oct. 1, 2026, KCCI, Sept. 30, 2026
- Credit2025
The National State Auditors Association's external peer review gave his office a pass rating for July 2024 to June 2025, the third top rating since 2019.
- Credit2017-06-29
As assistant attorney general prosecuted the Hot Lotto rigging case; former lottery security director Eddie Tipton pleaded guilty to ongoing criminal conduct on June 29, 2017.
Source: CNBC (AP), June 30, 2017
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Zach Lahn. PolitiFact has rated one statement, an August 2026 ad claim that Rob Sand wants to raise taxes by $7,500 a year, False. One rating does not meet the E15 threshold. No ethics board penalty naming him was found.
Sources: PolitiFact, Zach Lahn scorecard, PolitiFact Iowa, as published by The Daily Iowan, Sept. 17, 2026
Rob Sand. PolitiFact has rated one statement, Half True. No ethics board penalty naming him was found. A public records suit over his office's withheld emails was sent back to district court in 2024 and is unresolved (Record, open).
Sources: PolitiFact, Rob Sand scorecard, Iowa Public Radio, April 29, 2024
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Zach Lahn. Ran against and defeated U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, whom President Trump, the leader of his own party, had endorsed, in the June 2, 2026 Republican primary.
Source: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026
Rob Sand. Publicly supports restrictions on transgender athletes in girls' sports, a break with much of his own party, and restated it at a Sept. 14, 2026 Johnson County town hall where an attendee shouted at him.
Source: Yahoo News, Oct. 4, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Zach Lahn. Agreed to three Gray Media debates (Oct. 6, 14 and 27) and an Iowa PBS debate on Oct. 21, 2026, and holds public rallies; no record found of regular open town halls.
Sources: N'West Iowa REVIEW, Sept. 4, 2026, KCCI, Sept. 30, 2026
Rob Sand. Completed a second tour of open town halls in all 99 counties on Sept. 30, 2026, taking audience questions including from Republicans, and agreed to four general election debates.
Sources: KWQC, Oct. 1, 2026, KCCI, Sept. 30, 2026, N'West Iowa REVIEW, Sept. 4, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Zach Lahn. Montana state director for Americans for Prosperity in 2014 and 2015 and co-founder of an investment firm and a private school, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026
Rob Sand. Assistant attorney general 2010 to 2017 and state auditor since 2019 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: PolitiFact, Rob Sand scorecard
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Zach Lahn. No public record found.
Rob Sand. Sworn state auditor since Jan. 1, 2019, with no official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results. In December 2025 the Iowa Supreme Court ruled his office could use its own lawyers in the Davenport records case.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Rob Sand, KCRG, Dec. 5, 2025
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Zach Lahn. Businessman and farmer who co-founded Homeplace Ventures, which invests in agriculture, real estate and technology, and the Wonder private school in Wichita; former state director of a political advocacy group. No government service.
Sources: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Zach Lahn
Rob Sand. Iowa Auditor of State since 2019, two terms, and an assistant attorney general from 2010 to 2017 who prosecuted public corruption and financial crimes. No prior service as governor.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Rob Sand, PolitiFact, Rob Sand scorecard
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Zach Lahn. Publishes specific plans with four-year goals, including antitrust suits against agricultural input companies, ending tax credits for out-of-state corporations, and a first-home down payment account funded from young workers' state income taxes.
Sources: Lahn campaign, Policy, KCCI, Oct. 1, 2026
Rob Sand. Campaign publishes specific plans that fit the governor's powers, including reversing Medicaid privatization by executive order, a statewide remote-work program for state employees and universal all-day pre-K paid for by redirecting voucher money.
Source: Sand campaign, Rob's Priorities
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Zach Lahn. Three channels documented: completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, published a campaign policy page, and agreed to four general election debates.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Zach Lahn, Lahn campaign, Policy, N'West Iowa REVIEW, Sept. 4, 2026
Rob Sand. Several channels documented: completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, published issue pages, held open town halls in all 99 counties and agreed to four debates.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Rob Sand, KWQC, Oct. 1, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Zach Lahn. Raised in Sioux City; lived in Colorado, Montana and Kansas before moving fully back to Iowa in 2023. He bought his family farm in 2014 and still keeps a home in Kansas, which he says he uses to see children. In-state donor share not computed.
Sources: KCCI, Oct. 1, 2026, Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026
Rob Sand. Born and raised in Decorah, Iowa, and has held statewide office since 2019. His campaign has received $13.1 million since 2018 from his wife's family, owners of an Ankeny company; overall in-state donor share not computed.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Rob Sand, KCRG, Oct. 4, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Zach Lahn. Co-founded and runs Homeplace Ventures and co-founded the Wonder school in Wichita. No penalty from the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board naming his committee was found.
Source: Des Moines Register, as published by Yahoo News, June 3, 2026
Rob Sand. Has run the State Auditor's office since 2019. Its 2025 external peer review by the National State Auditors Association gave it a pass, the highest rating, for the third time since 2019. Staff size not sourced.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Zach Lahn. No public record found.
Rob Sand. As assistant attorney general he prosecuted the Hot Lotto rigging case, in which Eddie Tipton pleaded guilty in 2017. As auditor his office earned three straight top peer review ratings.
Sources: CNBC (AP), June 30, 2017, CBS2 Iowa
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Zach Lahn. No public record found.
Rob Sand. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Zach Lahn. No public record found.
Rob Sand. Has held more than 200 open town halls, including two tours of all 99 counties during the campaign; the office has no published casework figures.
Source: KWQC, Oct. 1, 2026
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Zach Lahn. No public record found.
Rob Sand. Endorsed by more than 100 registered Republicans, including former Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh, in June 2026; announced a leadership team with Republican and independent members as auditor.
Sources: Council Bluffs Nonpareil, as published by The Gazette, June 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Rob Sand
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Zach Lahn. No public record found.
Rob Sand. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Iowa governor's race?
Rob Sand has the strongest record in the Iowa governor's race. Rob Sand scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Zach Lahn at 58, as of October 6, 2026. Rob Sand's highest marks are accountability and relevant experience. Zach Lahn's highest marks are command of the job and communication. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Iowa governor's race in 2026?
Zach Lahn (Republican), Rob Sand (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Zach Lahn a good candidate for Governor?
Zach Lahn scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Rob Sand a good candidate for Governor?
Rob Sand scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 60 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Iowa race scored, and the Iowa 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.