2026 Iowa gubernatorial election
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The 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Iowa. Republican businessman Zach Lahn and Democratic state auditor Rob Sand are the nominees for their respective parties. Republican incumbent Kim Reynolds is not seeking a third term.
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November 3, 2026
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Primary elections were held on June 2, 2026.[1] In the Republican primary, congressman Randy Feenstra emerged as the frontrunner after being endorsed by President Donald Trump, but Lahn won the nomination in an upset with 37.65% of the vote. Sand was the only candidate to qualify for the ballot in the Democratic primary.
This is the first open gubernatorial election in Iowa since 2006 and the first to be held at the same time as the open Senate election since 1968.[2] The 2006 gubernatorial election is the most recent won by Democrats in Iowa.
Background
Iowa is considered to be a red state, with both chambers of its state legislature controlled by the Republican Party which failed to achieve a supermajority in 2024 by one Iowa Senate seat. The last time the Democratic Party won a gubernatorial election in Iowa was in 2006. All 4 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa have been Republicans since 2022 and Republicans have won all U.S. Senate elections in Iowa since 2010, making Iowa's congressional delegation entirely Republican. Iowa has voted for Republican presidents since 2016, trending in favor of the Republican Party increasingly since then.[3]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Zach Lahn, businessman[4][5][6][7]
- Running mate: Derek Wulf, state representative from the 76th district (2023–present)[8]
Eliminated in primary
- Eddie Andrews, state representative from the 43rd district (2021–present)[9]
- Randy Feenstra, U.S. representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district (2021–present)[10]
- Brad Sherman, former state representative from the 91st district (2023–2025)[11]
- Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (2021–2025)[12]
Declined
- Brenna Bird, attorney general of Iowa (2023–present) (running for re-election)[13]
- Mike Bousselot, state senator from the 21st district (2023–present) (ran for re-election; later withdrew)[14][15]
- Chris Cournoyer, lieutenant governor of Iowa (2024–present) (running for state auditor; endorsed Feenstra)[16][17]
- Pat Grassley, speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives (2020–present) from the 57th district (2007–present) and grandson of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (running for re-election)[18]
- Ashley Hinson, U.S. representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district (2021–present)[19] (running for U.S. Senate)[20]
- Bobby Kaufmann, state representative from the 82nd district (2013–present) (running for re-election)[21]
- Kari Lake, senior advisor to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (2025–present) and nominee for governor of Arizona in 2022 and U.S. senator in 2024[22]
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. representative from Iowa's 1st congressional district (2021–present)[23] (running for re-election; endorsed Feenstra)[24][17]
- Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture (2018–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Feenstra)[25]
- Zach Nunn, U.S. representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[26]
- Kim Reynolds, incumbent governor (2017–present)[27]
- Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader, nominee for lieutenant governor in 2006, and candidate for governor in 2002, 2006, and 2010[28] (endorsed Steen)[29]
Endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)[30] (previously endorsed Bousselot)[31]
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[32]
- U.S. senators
- Joni Ernst, Iowa (2015–present)[17]
- U.S. representatives
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-1 (2021–present)[17]
- Statewide officials
- Chris Cournoyer, lieutenant governor of Iowa (2024–present)[17]
- Mike Naig, secretary of agriculture of Iowa (2018–present)[33]
- Matt Schultz, former secretary of state of Iowa (2011–2015)[34]
- Roby Smith, state treasurer of Iowa (2023–present)[35]
- State legislators
- Craig Johnson, HD-67 (2023–present)[36]
- Carrie Koelker, SD-33 (2019–present)[37]
- Ken Rozenboom, president pro tempore of the Iowa Senate (2025–present) from SD-19 (2013–present)[37]
- Brent Siegrist, HD-19 (2021–present), HD-84 (1985–2003)[37]
- John Wills, speaker pro tempore of the Iowa House of Representatives (2020–present) from HD-10 (2015–present)[37]
- 18 other state legislators[37]
- U.S. representatives
- Steve King, former IA-4 (2003–2021)[38]
- Individuals
- Rob Schneider, actor and comedian (Independent)[39]
- Organizations
- Executive branch officials
- Sam Clovis, former senior White House advisor to the Department of Agriculture (2017–2018)[43]
- State legislators
- Kevin Alons, SD-07 (2023–present)[43]
- Doug Campbell, SD-30 (2025–present)[43]
- Jim Carlin, former SD-03 (2017–2023)[43]
- Mark Cisneros, HD-96 (2021–present)[43]
- Dennis Guth, SD-28 (2013–present)[43]
- Judd Lawler, HD-91 (2025–present)[43]
- Anne Osmundson, former HD-64 (2019–2025)[43]
- Sandy Salmon, SD-29 (2023–present)[43]
- Luana Stoltenberg, former HD-81 (2023–2025)[43]
- State legislators
- Dean Fisher, HD-53 (2013–present)[44]
- Charlie McClintock, SD-42 (2023–present)[45]
- Mike Pike, SD-20 (2025–present)[46]
- Henry Stone, HD-09 (2023–present)[47]
- Individuals
- Steve Deace, conservative talk show host[29]
- Dan Gable, former freestyle wrestler[48]
- Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader[29]
- Organizations
- Executive branch officials
Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)[31] (later endorsed Feenstra)[30]
Debates
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Participants | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | |||||||||
| Feenstra | Lahn | Sherman | Steen | Andrews | |||||
| 1 | April 28, 2026 | Iowa PBS | Kay Henderson | PBS | A | A | P | P | P |
| 2[52] | May 19, 2026 | KCCI | Amanda Rooker Dave Price |
KCCI | A | P | P | P | P |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Eddie Andrews |
Randy Feenstra |
Zach Lahn |
Brad Sherman |
Adam Steen |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JMC Analytics (R)[53] | May 27–28, 2026 | 550 (A) | ± 4.2% | 4% | 22% | 24% | 8% | 15% | 27% |
| 4% | 24% | 27% | 9% | 16% | 19% | ||||
| Victory Enterprises (R)[54][A] | April 14–15, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 5% | 41% | 8% | 5% | 9% | 32% |
Results
 Lahn
Feenstra
Steen
Sherman
 Lahn
Feenstra
|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Lahn | 80,765 | 37.7 | |
| Republican | Randy Feenstra | 79,113 | 36.9 | |
| Republican | Adam Steen | 31,087 | 14.5 | |
| Republican | Brad Sherman | 15,076 | 7.0 | |
| Republican | Eddie Andrews | 7,694 | 3.6 | |
| Write-in | 794 | 0.4 | ||
| Total votes | 214,529 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Rob Sand, Iowa auditor of state (2019–present)[56]
- Running mate: Dave Muhlbauer, Crawford County supervisor (2017–2021, 2023–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[57]
Disqualified
- Julie Stauch, business development professional and former Iowa political director for the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign[58]
Endorsements
- Statewide officials
- Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota (2019–present)[59]
- Labor unions
- AFSCME Council 61[60]
- Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO[61]
- Iowa State Education Association, NEA[62]
- LIUNA 177[63]
- SEIU Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa[64]
- United Auto Workers[65]
- Organizations
- Defend The Vote[66]
- End Citizens United[67]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rob Sand | 189,442 | 99.6 | |
| Write-in | 751 | 0.4 | ||
| Total votes | 190,193 | 100.0 | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
On June 2, the Gluba campaign submitted over 8,000 signatures to the Iowa Secretary of State, satisfying the 3,500 signature requirement to qualify for the ballot.[68] However, later he got disqualified from the ballot as he did not follow the proper legal procedures when trying to substitute his running mate.[69]
Disqualified
- Nicholas Gluba, Lone Tree city councilor and nominee for Iowa's 1st congressional district in 2024[68][69]
Independents
General election
Campaign
Though originally from Iowa, Zach Lahn faced scrutiny following reporting by The Des Moines Register that he lived in Kansas until 2023, when he allegedly returned to Iowa.[73] Lahn registered to vote in Iowa on October 17, 2024, ahead of the 2024 election.[74] The newspaper later reported that flight records indicated Lahn spent 75 nights in Wichita, Kansas between October 2025 and spring 2026, frequently traveling there by private plane.[75] Lahn said the trips were related to custody arrangements involving his children, who live in Kansas.
Rob Sand criticized Lahn as a "part-time Iowan" and a carpetbagger, arguing that his frequent travel to Kansas conflicted with his "Iowa First" campaign message. Sand, meanwhile, has faced criticism from Governor Kim Reynolds and other state Republicans, who have accused him of using high-profile audits and allegations of fraud to bolster his political profile.[76][77]
In early September, The Des Moines Register reported that the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office was investigating Lahn's running mate, Wulf, for theft and fraud in relation to accusations that Wulf had misled lenders and business associates about his finances.[78]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[79] | Lean D (flip) | September 17, 2026 |
| Decision Desk HQ[80] | Lean D (flip) | September 23, 2026 |
| Fox News[81] | Lean D (flip) | July 23, 2026 |
| Inside Elections[82] | Tilt D (flip) | September 17, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[83] | Tossup | June 5, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[84] | Lean D (flip) | September 22, 2026 |
| Silver Bulletin[85] | Likely D (flip) | September 13, 2026 |
Post-primary endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)[86]
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of health and human services (2025–present) (Independent)[87]
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[88]
- JD Vance, vice president of the United States (2025–present)[89]
- U.S. representatives
- Randy Feenstra, IA-4 (2021–present) and primary gubernatorial candidate[90]
- Ashley Hinson, IA-2 (2021–present)[91]
- Mike Johnson, speaker of the House (2023–present) from LA-4 (2017–present)[92]
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-1 (2021–present)[93]
- Statewide officials
- Brenna Bird, attorney general of Iowa (2023–present)[89]
- Mike Naig, secretary of agriculture of Iowa (2018–present)[94]
- Paul Pate, secretary of state of Iowa (1995–1999, 2015–present)[95]
- Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa (2017–present)[96]
- Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (2021–2025) and primary gubernatorial candidate[97]
- State legislators
- Bobby Kaufmann, majority leader of the Iowa House of Representatives (2025–present) from HD-82 (2013–present)[98]
- Jeff Kaufmann, former HD-79 (2005–2013) and chair of the Iowa GOP (2014–present)[90]
- Derek Wulf, HD-76 (2023–present) (candidate's running mate)[99]
- Individuals
- Benny Johnson, conservative commentator[100]
- Erika Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA[101]
- Chris McGowen, economic development executive[89]
- Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader[90]
- Organizations
- American Conservation Coalition[102]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[103]
- Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America[104]
- The Family Leader[92]
- Political parties
- Executive branch officials
- Pete Buttigieg, former secretary of transportation (2021–2025)[105]
- Tom Vilsack, former secretary of agriculture (2009–2017, 2021–2025) and former governor of Iowa (1999–2007)[106]
- Statewide officials
- Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky (2019–present)[107]
- Patty Judge, former lieutenant governor of Iowa (2007–2011)[106]
- Tom Miller, former attorney general of Iowa (1979–1991, 1995–2023)[108]
- Gavin Newsom, governor of California (2019–present)[107]
- JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois (2019–present)[107]
- State legislators
- Walt Tomenga, former HD-69 (2005–2009) (Republican)[109]
- Local officials
- Dave Muhlbauer, Crawford County supervisor (2017–2021, 2023–present) (candidate's running mate)[57]
- Matt Walsh, former mayor of Council Bluffs (2014–2025) (Republican)[109]
- Individuals
- Christie Vilsack, former first lady of Iowa (1999–2007)[106]
- Labor unions
- Political parties
- Organizations
Polling
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Zach Lahn (R) |
Rob Sand (D) |
Other/Undecided [b] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270toWin[113] | August 30 – September 22, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | 43.4% | 50.4% | 6.2% | Sand +7.0% |
| FiftyPlusOne[114] | through September 20, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | 42.2% | 49.5% | 8.3% | Sand +7.3% |
| RealClearPolitics[115] | August 20 – September 20, 2026 | September 22, 2026 | 43.0% | 49.3% | 7.7% | Sand +6.7% |
| Silver Bulletin[85] | September 16, 2026 | September 28, 2026 | 43.2% | 50.6% | 6.2% | Sand +7.4% |
| Average | 43.0% | 50.0% | 7.1% | Sand +7.0% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Zach Lahn (R) |
Rob Sand (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marist University[116] | September 17–20, 2026 | 1,050 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 42% | 54% | 2% | 2% |
| co/efficient (R)[117] | September 14–16, 2026 | 831 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 42% | 46% | – | 12% |
| Cygnal (R)[118][B] | September 9–11, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 44% | 48% | — | 8% |
| YouGov[119] | September 3–8, 2026 | 2,169 (RV) | ± 3.5% | 39% | 50% | 1%[c] | 10% |
| 2,041 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 41% | 51% | — | 8% | ||
| Emerson College[120] | August 31 – September 1, 2026 | 750 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 46% | 49% | — | 6% |
| Wedgewood Polls[121] | August 27–29, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 46% | 51% | — | 3% |
| Suffolk University[122] | August 20–23, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 44% | 48% | — | 8% |
| Emerson College[123] | August 2–4, 2026 | 712 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 43% | 48% | 2%[d] | 7% |
| Beacon Research (D)/ Shaw & Co. Research (R)[124][C] |
June 23–27, 2026 | 1,003 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 44% | 53% | — | 3% |
| New York Times/ Siena University[125] |
June 15–27, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 47% | 48% | — | 5% |
| Cygnal (R)[126][B] | June 16–19, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 43% | 48% | — | 9% |
Randy Feenstra vs. Rob Sand
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Randy Feenstra (R) |
Rob Sand (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echelon Insights[127] | April 3–9, 2026 | 377 (LV) | ± 6.6% | 39% | 51% | 10% |
| GBAO (D)[128][D] | March 10–16, 2026 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 42% | 50% | 8% |
| Z to A Research (D)[129][130] | October 9–13, 2025 | 1,351 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 43% | 45% | 12% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | |||||
| Democratic |
|
||||
| Write-in | |||||
| Total votes | 100.0 | ||||
See also
Notes
Partisan and media clients
- Poll sponsored by Feenstra's campaign
- Poll sponsored by the Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation
- Poll sponsored by Josh Turek's campaign, who is a Democratic candidate in the Iowa U.S. Senate election