Democrat Rob Sand wins election for governor in Iowa

Democrat Rob Sand won election Tuesday as governor of Iowa, defeating Republican Zach Lahn. Sand’s victory marks the first time a Democrat has been elected Iowa governor since 2006. That also was the last time there was an open governor’s race. Sand, the state auditor, ran as a moderate emphasizing his rural upbringing. His victory comes in a state that President Donald Trump won by 13 percentage points in 2024. Lahn is a farmer and former conservative political director who owns an investment company. The Associated Press declared Sand the winner at 11:12 p.m. EST.

The Associated Press