Democratic · Iowa
Rob Sand
Governor-elect of Iowa; Iowa State Auditor
WonState Auditor Rob Sand was elected governor of Iowa on Nov. 3, 2026, defeating Republican Zach Lahn 55.5% to 44.5% (AP data via NBC News). He is the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa in two decades.
2026 race
Governor of Iowa
Result Won Won (flip): Sand 55.5%, Lahn 44.5%
Biography
Sand, a former assistant Iowa attorney general who prosecuted the state's largest lottery fraud case, has been Iowa's state auditor since 2019. The seat was open after Gov. Kim Reynolds did not seek reelection.
Record
- Iowa State Auditor since 2019
- Former assistant Iowa attorney general
Life & background
- As an assistant attorney general he prosecuted the $25 million Hot Lotto fraud, described as the largest lottery-rigging scheme in U.S. history. [Source]
Coverage
Races · News
Five governorships flipped, zero lost: Democrats redraw the state mapPeople · Explainer
Four New Faces Win Statehouses and a Senate Seat for Democrats
Sources
- U.S. Governor Midterm Elections 2026 Live Results NBC News (AP data)
- Democrats clinch a majority of governorships for first time in 16 years NBC News
- Rob Sand – Wikipedia Wikipedia