–Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra has filed the paperwork to begin raising money for a campaign for governor.
Feenstra was first elected to the U-S House in 2020, after defeating incumbent Steve King in the Republican Primary. Last year, he won reelection in the fourth congressional district by a 34 point margin.
Feenstra has served in a variety of government roles. He was state senator, Sioux County Treasurer and the city administrator in his hometown of Hull. Feenstra, a graduate of Dordt University, has taught business and economics classes at the Sioux Center school. He also has a masters from Iowa State and a PhD in business from Northcentral University in Minneapolis.
Governor Kim Reynolds announced a month ago that she would not seek reelection. Since then, a few other Republicans have indicated they are considering a run for governor, but have not taken steps to launch a campaign. That list includes Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, State Ag Secretary Mike Naig, House Speaker Pat Grassley and State Senator Mike Bousselot.
–State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat in statewide elected office, is running for governor in 2026. Sand, an attorney and former prosecutor in the Iowa attorney general’s office, has been state auditor since 2019 and he says it’s time for new leadership in the governor’s office.
Sand calls the state budget Republicans have developed a ticking fiscal time bomb because it relies on withdrawals from the state’s reserves.
Republican Terry Branstad returned to the governor’s office in 2011 and Kim Reynolds took over as governor in mid-2017. She’s signed five tax cuts into law over the last seven years. Sand says the state’s current flat income tax is of tremendous benefit to the wealthiest people in Iowa.
Sand, who is 42, grew up in Decorah and earned a degree in political science from Brown University. He got his law degree from the University of Iowa. As an assistant Iowa attorney general, he won a conviction in the case against a man who rigged Hot Lotto Jackpots in five states. A spokesperson for the Republican Governors Association says Iowans want a governor who will protect their values and tax dollars rather than just another extreme liberal.
