Overview
- Iowa Republicans advanced a bill to curb a governor’s emergency powers, a move seen as an acknowledgment that Rob Sand could win.
- The Cook Political Report now rates the race a tossup in a state that President Trump carried by more than 13 points in 2024.
- Democrat Rob Sand is unopposed for his party’s nomination and raised $9.5 million in 2025, outraising the entire Republican field, and he will face the GOP nominee from a crowded primary.
- Sand frames himself as a pragmatist to court independents and some Republicans, and he has steered clear of joint events with national Democratic figures.
- On the trail, he highlights concerns about a weak economy, population loss and rising cancer rates, arguing that current policies are not meeting everyday needs.