Can a Democrat stop Iowas red drift? 5 moments from the governors debate
Zach Lahn, a businessman, and Rob Sand, a former Iowa assistant attorney general and two-term state auditor, are competing to succeed retiring Republican Gov.Kim Reynolds, who has served as governor for nearly a decade.The opponents faced off Tuesday night for a 90-minute debate where they discussed fraud, culture wars and data centers, and even found agreement on some issues.The race in Iowa is the state's first open gubernatorial showdown in 20 years, with Reynolds last year announcing she wouldn't seek re-election.Sand, the only Democrat to currently hold statewide office in Iowa, quickly became his party's frontrunner and faced no opposition in this year's primary.Lahn, a self-described entrepreneur and farmer, had to navigate a crowded and contentious primary battle.
He won a five-candidate Republican nomination race that included Rep.Randy Feenstra, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.Sand is aiming to become the first Democrat in two decades elected governor in Iowa, a one-time swing state that's shifted to the right over the past decade.
The final Fox News Power Rankings ahead of Election Day rated the race between Lahn and Sand as Lean Democrat.Here are the five top moments.DRAG QUEENS, TRANS PASTOR, ABORTION RALLIES: INSIDE DEM GOVERNOR HOPEFUL'S PROGRESSIVE CHURCHA split-screen showing Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn speaking after being invited on stage during a rally with U.S.President Donald Trump at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, on October 22, 2026 (left), and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, state auditor Rob Sand speaking during a campaign stop at the state Education Association in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 08, 2026 (right).
Polls released show Sand leading the race to replace retiring Gov.Kim Reynolds against Lahn.
(Anna Moneymaker / Scott Olson / Getty Images)The candidates differed on several culture war issues, such as abortion, parental rights and childhood transgender concerns.Sand affirmed that...