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.[1]
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November 3, 2026
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Primary elections were held on June 2, 2026.[2] 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.[3] 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 who 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.[4]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Zach Lahn, businessman and farmer[5]
- Running mate: Derek Wulf, state representative from the 76th district (2023–present)[6]
Eliminated in primary
- Eddie Andrews, state representative from the 43rd district (2021–present)[7]
- Randy Feenstra, U.S. representative from Iowa's 4th congressional district (2021–present)[8]
- Brad Sherman, former state representative from the 91st district (2023–2025)[9]
- Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (2021–2025)[10]
Declined
- Brenna Bird, attorney general of Iowa (2023–present) (running for re-election)[11]
- Mike Bousselot, state senator from the 21st district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[12]
- Chris Cournoyer, lieutenant governor of Iowa (2024–present) (running for state auditor; endorsed Feenstra)[13][14]
- 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)[15]
- Ashley Hinson, U.S. representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district (2021–present)[16] (running for U.S. Senate)[17]
- Bobby Kaufmann, state representative from the 82nd district (2013–present) (running for re-election)[18]
- 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[19]
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, U.S. representative from Iowa's 1st congressional district (2021–present)[20] (running for re-election; endorsed Feenstra)[21][14]
- Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture (2018–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Feenstra)[22]
- Zach Nunn, U.S. representative from Iowa's 3rd congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[23]
- Kim Reynolds, incumbent governor (2017–present)[1]
- 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[24] (endorsed Steen)[25]
Endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)[26] (previously endorsed Bousselot)[27]
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[28]
- U.S. senators
- Joni Ernst, Iowa (2015–present)[14]
- U.S. representatives
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks, IA-01 (2021–present)[14]
- Statewide officials
- Chris Cournoyer, lieutenant governor of Iowa (2024–present)[14]
- Mike Naig, secretary of agriculture (2018–present)[29]
- Matt Schultz, former secretary of state of Iowa (2011–2015)[30]
- Roby Smith, state treasurer of Iowa (2023–present)[31]
- State legislators
- Craig Johnson, HD-67 (2023–present)[32]
- Carrie Koelker, SD-33 (2019–present)[33]
- Ken Rozenboom, president pro tempore of the Iowa Senate (2025–present) from SD-19 (2013–present)[33]
- Brent Siegrist, HD-19 (2021–present), HD-84 (1985–2003)[33]
- John Wills, speaker pro tempore of the Iowa House of Representatives (2020–present) from HD-10 (2015–present)[33]
- 18 other state legislators[33]
- U.S. representatives
- Steve King, former IA-04 (2003–2021)[34]
- Individuals
- Rob Schneider, actor and comedian (Independent)[35]
- Organizations
- Executive branch officials
- Sam Clovis, former senior White House advisor to the Department of Agriculture (2017–2018)[39]
- State legislators
- Kevin Alons, SD-07 (2023–present)[39]
- Doug Campbell, SD-30 (2025–present)[39]
- Jim Carlin, former SD-03 (2017–2023)[39]
- Mark Cisneros, HD-96 (2021–present)[39]
- Dennis Guth, SD-28 (2013–present)[39]
- Judd Lawler, HD-91 (2025–present)[39]
- Anne Osmundson, former HD-64 (2019–2025)[39]
- Sandy Salmon, SD-29 (2023–present)[39]
- Luana Stoltenberg, former HD-81 (2023–2025)[39]
- State legislators
- Dean Fisher, HD-53 (2013–present)[40]
- Charlie McClintock, SD-42 (2023–present)[41]
- Mike Pike, SD-20 (2025–present)[42]
- Henry Stone, HD-09 (2023–present)[43]
- Individuals
- Steve Deace, conservative talk show host[25]
- Dan Gable, former freestyle wrestler[44]
- Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader[25]
- Organizations
- Executive branch officials
Terry Branstad, former ambassador to China (2017–2020) and former governor of Iowa (1983–1999, 2011–2017)[27] (later endorsed Feenstra)[26]
- Statewide officials
- Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa (2017–present)[46]
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[47] | May 19, 2026 | KCCI | Amanda Rooker Dave Price |
KCCI | A | P | P | P | P |
Polling
Results
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 30–40%
- 30–40%
- 30–40%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Zach Lahn | 80,765 | 37.65 | |
| Republican | Randy Feenstra | 79,113 | 36.88 | |
| Republican | Adam Steen | 31,087 | 14.49 | |
| Republican | Brad Sherman | 15,076 | 7.03 | |
| Republican | Eddie Andrews | 7,694 | 3.59 | |
| Write-in | 794 | 0.37 | ||
| Total votes | 214,529 | 100.00 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Rob Sand, Iowa auditor of state (2019–present)[51]
- Running mate: Dave Muhlbauer, Crawford County supervisor (2017–2021, 2023–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[52]
Disqualified
- Julie Stauch, business development professional and former Iowa political director for the Pete Buttigieg 2020 presidential campaign[53]
Did not file
- Paul Dahl, bus driver and perennial candidate[54]
Endorsements
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Rob Sand | 189,442 | 99.61 | |
| Write-in | 751 | 0.39 | ||
| Total votes | 190,193 | 100.00 | ||
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Disqualified
- Nicholas Gluba, Lone Tree city councilor and nominee for Iowa's 1st congressional district in 2024[63]
Results
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.[63]
General election
Campaign
Though originally from Iowa, Zach Lahn faced controversy over reporting from the The Des Moines Register that he was a resident of Kansas until 2023 when he allegedly moved back to the state.[64] On October 17, 2024, Lahn registered as a voter in Iowa to vote in the 2024 election.[65] The reporting found flight records suggesting that from October 2025 to spring 2026, Lahn spent 75 nights in Wichita, Kansas rather than his home state, commuting with his private jet.[66] According to Lahn, he commutes to Kansas often because some of his children live in the state. Rob Sand has criticized Lahn as being unable to serve as governor full-time due to his frequent commutes and labeled him a carpetbagger for claiming an "Iowa First" campaign despite spending more time in Kansas.[67]
Candidates
Declared
- Zach Lahn (Republican), businessman and farmer
- Running mate: Derek Wulf, state representative from the 76th district (2023–present) and farmer[68]
- Rob Sand (Democratic), Iowa auditor of state (2019–present)
- Running mate: Dave Muhlbauer, Crawford County supervisor (2017–2021, 2023–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[69]
- Sondra Wilson (Independent), pre-law student[70] (previously ran as a Democrat)[71]
- Running mate: TBA
Disqualified
- Nicholas Gluba (Libertarian), Lone Tree city councilor and nominee for Iowa's 1st congressional district in 2024[72]
- Running mate: Jules Cutler
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[73] | Tossup | September 11, 2025 |
| Fox News[74] | Lean D (flip) | July 23, 2026 |
| Inside Elections[75] | Tilt D (flip) | August 6, 2026 |
| Race to the WH[76] | Lean D (flip) | July 2, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[77] | Tossup | June 5, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[78] | Tossup | September 4, 2025 |
Post-primary endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of health and human services (2025–present) (Independent)[79]
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[80]
- U.S. representatives
- Randy Feenstra, IA-04 (2021–present) and former gubernatorial candidate[81]
- Ashley Hinson, IA-02 (2021–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2026[82]
- Mike Johnson, speaker of the House (2023–present) from LA-04 (2017–present)[83]
- Statewide officials
- Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa (2017–present)[84]
- Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (2021–2025) and former gubernatorial candidate[85]
- State legislators
- Jeff Kaufmann, former HD-79 (2005–2013) and chair of the Iowa Republican Party (2014–present)[81]
- Individuals
- Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of The Family Leader[81]
- Organizations
- Executive branch officials
- Pete Buttigieg, former secretary of transportation (2021–2025)[86]
- Statewide officials
- Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky (2019–present)[87]
- Gavin Newsom, governor of California (2019–present)[87]
- JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois (2019–present)[87]
- State legislators
- Walt Tomenga, former HD-69 (2005–2009) (Republican)[88]
- Local officials
- Matt Walsh, former mayor of Council Bluffs (2014–2025) (Republican)[88]
- Political parties
Polling
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Zach Lahn (R) |
Rob Sand (D) |
Other/Undecided [b] |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race to the WH[90] | through August 4, 2026 | August 6, 2026 | 44.2% | 48.6% | 7.2% | Sand +4.4% |
| RealClearPolitics[91] | June 15 – August 4, 2026 | August 6, 2026 | 44.3% | 49.3% | 6.4% | Sand +5.0% |
| Average | 44.3% | 49.0% | 6.7% | Sand +4.7% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Zach Lahn (R) |
Rob Sand (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson College[92] | August 2–4, 2026 | 712 (LV) | ± 3.7% | 43% | 48% | 2%[c] | 7% |
| Beacon Research (D)/ Shaw & Co. Research (R)[93][B] |
June 23–27, 2026 | 1,003 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 44% | 53% | – | 3% |
| New York Times/ Siena University[94] |
June 15–27, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 47% | 48% | – | 5% |
| Cygnal (R)[95][C] | 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[96] | April 3–9, 2026 | 377 (LV) | ± 6.6% | 39% | 51% | 10% |
| GBAO (D)[97][D] | March 10–16, 2026 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 42% | 50% | 8% |
| Z to A Research (D)[98][99] | October 9–13, 2025 | 1,351 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 43% | 45% | 12% |
See also
Notes
Partisan and media clients
- Poll sponsored by Feenstra's campaign
- Poll sponsored by Iowans for Tax Relief
- Poll sponsored by Josh Turek's campaign, who is a Democratic candidate in the Iowa U.S. Senate election