The victory is politically significant as Iowa, a state that twice supported Barack Obama but voted for Donald Trump in all three presidential cycles he contested, sees a return to balanced government. Sand’s win coincides with historic Democratic performances in gubernatorial races nationwide, including the election of Keisha Lance Bottoms as governor of Georgia, the first Black woman to hold the office in the country.
Sand, 44, positioned himself as a unifier during the campaign, emphasizing the need to restore Iowa’s identity as a “commonsense state” where bipartisan cooperation is essential. At his victory party on Tuesday night, Sand addressed the crowd, stating, “To Iowa Democrats, we’ve had a hard few years here in Iowa, but balanced government has been restored.” He urged future cooperation, telling supporters, “Come January, we will be forced to work together,” and added, “Left wing, right wing, same bird.”
The race was defined by Sand’s focus on accountability and water quality improvements. He highlighted the absence of checks and balances during the previous administration, noting at a rally on October 28 that “10 years of one-party control in the state of Iowa… led us to where we are today.” His campaign strategy relied heavily on town halls, where he often led crowds in singing “America the Beautiful,” a tradition he maintained at his victory celebration.
His opponent, Zach Lahn, was a political newcomer backed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Lahn had previously won the Republican primary against a candidate endorsed by Donald Trump. However, his campaign faced scrutiny over his residency and connections. The New York Times reported in October that although Lahn voted in Iowa in the 2024 general election, his ballot had been mailed to him in Kansas. Additionally, Lahn faced questions regarding his ties to the Koch family, prominent Republican billionaire donors.
Iowa Democrats had alleged that Lahn spent a disproportionate amount of campaign time in neighboring Kansas. Sand’s campaign contrasted this with his own grassroots approach, supported by his parents, Kevin and Leslie Sand, who helped with door-knocking. Kevin Sand described his son’s mother as the more diligent volunteer, while Leslie Sand expressed being “proud, excited, elated” about the result. Rob Sand’s aunt, Carol Sand, a public school teacher, said she was relieved that her nephew, a product of the public education system, would bring accountability to the governor’s office.
The next major political step for Sand is his inauguration in January, where he will assume executive powers in a state legislature still dominated by Republicans. His stated priorities include improving water quality and reforming the political process to foster collaboration between the two major parties.
