Meet the gubernatorial candidate: State Auditor Rob Sand

Ruby red state scrambles to slash governor's power amid panic that Dem could seize control

Republicans are making moves in Iowa to limit the next governor's powers in what has been seen as an acknowledgement that a Democrat might hold that role in the deep red state for the first time in decades.Democratic state auditor Rob Sand is campaigning for governor by highlighting economic struggles, population decline and health crises in the state, arguing that Republican leadership has failed Iowans, and he'll face off against the winner of…

Meet the gubernatorial candidate: State Auditor Rob Sand

State Auditor Rob Sand is running as the lone Democratic candidate in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election. Sand said that Iowa’s “broken” political system and one-party leadership has allowed political “insiders” to make themselves and special interests a priority over their constituents. “Our political system is broken, and a small group of powerful insiders have spent the last decade putting special interests and themselves ahead of Iowans,” …