Race · November 3, 2026

Governor · Iowa

2 candidates on the ballot — an open seat, with no incumbent running.1

§1Candidates

Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.

Zach Lahn
Republican · Open seat
Rob Sand
Democratic · Open seat

§2Side by side

Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.

Scroll sideways on small screens. Select a name for the full page.
Zach LahnRob Sand
Party on the ballotRepublican1Democratic1
StatusOpen seatOpen seat
MoneyCandidates for governor file campaign-finance reports with the state, not the FEC, so this guide doesn't include their fundraising. Search the state's reports: Campaign finance data search — Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.2
Vouchers and education savings accountsHis campaign website says he supports school choice, homeschooling and education savings accounts, alongside strengthening public schools.3,4
Offer them only to some students, such as those from low-income families or with disabilities
His campaign website says Iowa's private school voucher program takes resources from public schools, and his accountability plan calls for income limits so the money goes to families who need it most, annual audits of the program and limits on tuition increases.5,6
Large investors buying single-family homesHis campaign website says he would ban Wall Street hedge funds from buying single-family homes in Iowa and raise taxes on out-of-state institutional investors.3,4His campaign website says out-of-state interests are buying up Iowa farmland and housing, and that he would tax out-of-state landowners at a higher rate and ban hedge funds and LLCs from buying up too much Iowa land.7
Property taxesHis campaign website says he would reduce the property tax burden on Iowa families and farms, partly by raising property taxes on out-of-state investors and increasing taxes on data centers.3His campaign website says he would tax out-of-state landowners at a higher rate, and his health plan calls for a per-acre property tax credit for farms that use approved nutrient plans.7,8

Issues only one candidate has addressed

By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.

Zach Lahn — 3 issues
  • Abortion law
    His campaign website says life should be protected before birth and that he will oppose any attack on Iowa's Heartbeat Bill.3,9
  • Foreign ownership of farmland
    Ban purchases by buyers tied to China, Russia, Iran or North Korea
    His campaign website says he would end illegal foreign ownership of Iowa farmland and tighten and enforce laws to stop hedge funds and foreign adversaries from buying Iowa farms and homes.3,4
  • Books in school libraries
    His campaign website says he would keep explicit material out of K-12 classrooms.4
Rob Sand — 10 issues
  • Mandatory minimum sentences
    Add or raise mandatory minimums, for example for selling fentanyl
    His campaign website says he supports mandatory prison time for anyone convicted of stealing more than $10,000 in taxpayer money.6
  • Marijuana laws
    Make it legal for adults to buy and use
    His campaign website says he would legalize adult-use cannabis for people 21 and older and regulate it like alcohol, with limits on THC content, packaging and advertising and no public consumption.5,10
  • Stock trading by members of Congress
    Ban members themselves from trading individual stocks
    His campaign website says he supports banning stock trading by members of Congress and other elected officials, and would call for Iowa to do the same for state officials.6
  • Data centers and electricity costs
    Require data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants and lines they need
    His campaign website says data centers should cover 100% of their own costs, including any increase in utility costs and infrastructure upgrades, and that he would end their tax breaks and require public hearings before new ones are built.11
  • Child care costs
    His campaign website says Iowa needs universal all-day pre-K, which it says could be paid for by no longer covering private school tuition for the wealthiest families.5,12
  • Help for first-time homebuyers
    His campaign website says Iowa's down payment assistance for first-time buyers should be interest-free.12
  • Zoning and new housing
    His campaign website says he would work with the legislature to make it easier to build more homes and more types of homes, such as duplexes, quadplexes and accessory dwelling units, and to simplify permitting and inspections.7,12
  • State minimum wage
    His campaign website says he supports raising Iowa's minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 an hour.7
  • Children and social media
    Bar children under a set age, such as 16, from having social media accounts, with age checks
    His campaign website says he supports banning social media accounts for children under 16 and requiring parental consent for 16- and 17-year-olds, and names Utah's 2025 app store law, which requires age checks and parental consent for users under 18, as one way to do it.13
  • High-speed internet access
    His campaign website says Iowa should use whatever technology reaches homes fastest, whether fiber, satellite or wireless, to expand high-speed internet, and his health plan calls for helping people pay for satellite internet rather than laying more fiber.7,8

Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.