Who Is Running for Iowa Governor
Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn are the nominees for Iowa governor on November 3, 2026, and neither is an incumbent. Governor Kim Reynolds announced on April 11, 2025 that she would not seek another term (Ballotpedia).
Key facts
- The general election is November 3, 2026, and Iowa voters can register at their polling place on Election Day.
- Zach Lahn won the Republican primary with 37.8%, 1,644 votes ahead of Randy Feenstra.
- Each nominee runs on a ticket with a lieutenant governor, so one vote picks both (Iowa Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. 3).
- Republicans hold the Senate two seats short of two-thirds and the House at exactly two-thirds, the share needed to override a veto.
Rob Sand was elected state auditor in 2018, and earlier a public corruption prosecutor in the attorney general's office. Zach Lahn is a farmer and businessman who co-founded the investment firm Homeplace Ventures (Ballotpedia).
Tickets for Iowa governor and lieutenant governor on the November 3, 2026 ballot
Source: Ballotpedia, Iowa gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026, as of 2026-10-14. The Libertarian candidate is listed as withdrawn or disqualified.
One statewide measure shares the ballot. Amendment 1, referred by the Legislature, would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise the individual or corporate income tax rate (Ballotpedia).
Iowa Governor Primary Results
Zach Lahn won the five-way Republican primary on June 2, 2026 with 37.8%, beating Randy Feenstra by 1,644 votes out of 212,465. If no candidate in a primary of three or more reaches 35%, Iowa law sends the nomination to a party convention; Zach Lahn cleared that bar (Ballotpedia; Iowa Code 43.65).
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Zach Lahn | 37.8% |
| Randy Feenstra | 37.1% |
| Adam Steen | 14.4% |
| Brad Sherman | 6.9% |
| Eddie Andrews | 3.4% |
Source: Ballotpedia, certified results. 212,465 votes cast; write-ins are not shown.
Rob Sand ran without an opponent and took 99.7% of 190,047 Democratic votes, with write-ins making up the rest (Ballotpedia). NCSL classifies Iowa’s primaries as partially open: a voter picks a party at the polls. Our primary elections guide explains how each state runs them (NCSL).
The 2022 Iowa Governor Result
In 2022, Governor Reynolds won a second full term over Democrat Deidre DeJear by 226,248 votes out of about 1.22 million cast.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Kim Reynolds (R) | 58% |
| Deidre DeJear (D) | 39.5% |
Source: Ballotpedia, certified results. Libertarian Rick Stewart and write-ins took the rest.
That race had an incumbent, and 2026 does not, so the 2022 margin does not predict this year. This page carries no polls or race ratings (Ballotpedia).
The Iowa Legislature and the Veto
Republicans hold the Iowa Senate 32 to 17, with one seat vacant, and the House 67 to 33, according to the Legislature’s member lists. The next governor signs or vetoes everything that chamber majority passes.
Overriding a veto takes two-thirds of the members of each house: 34 senators and 67 representatives (Art. III, Sec. 16). Republicans hold exactly 67 House seats and are two short in the Senate. All 100 House seats and 25 of the 50 Senate seats are on the November 3 ballot. The next session begins January 11, 2027, and the new governor takes office January 12, 2027 (Art. III, Sec. 2; Art. IV, Sec. 15).
What the Iowa Governor Can Do
Iowa’s governor runs the state agencies, commands the National Guard, and signs or vetoes every bill, including single items in a spending bill. The Legislature meets every year starting the second Monday in January, and the governor can call it back on extraordinary occasions (Iowa Constitution).
Powers of the Iowa governor
Source: Iowa Constitution, Articles III and IV
How to Vote for Governor in Iowa
Register by 5 p.m. on October 19, 2026, or register at your polling place on Election Day with ID and proof of where you live. A mailed absentee ballot request must reach your county auditor by the same deadline (Iowa Code 48A.9, 48A.7A and 53.2). Check your registration with the Secretary of State’s voter search.
Iowa's 2026 governor election, step by step
- October 14, 2026 Early voting begins Vote absentee in person at your county auditor's office.
- 5 p.m. on October 19, 2026 Pre-registration and absentee request deadline After this, register at your polling place on Election Day.
- November 3, 2026 Election Day Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.. A mailed ballot must reach the auditor before polls close.
- January 12, 2027 Term begins The new governor and lieutenant governor take office.
A mailed absentee ballot counts only if it reaches the county auditor’s office before polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day; a postmark is not enough (Iowa Code 53.17).
Our 2026 governor races guide covers all 36 races on the ballot this year, and our Iowa Senate race guide covers the open U.S. Senate seat.
Iowa Governor Questions
Who is running for Iowa governor in 2026?
Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor, and Republican Zach Lahn, a farmer and businessman. The seat is open because Governor Kim Reynolds is not running. Rob Sand took 99.7% in an uncontested June 2 primary, and Zach Lahn won a five-way primary with 37.8%.
How close was the 2026 Iowa Republican primary for governor?
Zach Lahn finished 1,644 votes ahead of Randy Feenstra, 37.8% to 37.1%. Because he passed 35%, he won the nomination outright instead of it going to a party convention.
Does Iowa elect its governor and lieutenant governor together?
Yes. The Iowa Constitution has voters cast one vote for a governor and lieutenant governor pair. In 2026, Rob Sand’s running mate is Dave Muhlbauer and Zach Lahn’s is Derek Wulf.
Can I register to vote on Election Day in Iowa?
Yes. Iowa lets you register at your polling place on Election Day if you show proof of identity and residence, such as an Iowa driver’s license. Pre-registration closes at 5 p.m. on October 19, 2026.
When does a mailed ballot have to arrive in Iowa?
Before polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3, 2026. A postmark is not enough; the ballot must reach the county auditor’s office.
When does the next Iowa governor take office?
On January 12, 2027, the Tuesday after the second Monday in January, as the Iowa Constitution sets. Iowa places no limit on how many terms a governor can serve.
What You Can Do
- Check your registration with the Secretary of State’s voter search. If you miss 5 p.m. on October 19, 2026, you can still register at your polling place on Election Day.
- Return a mailed ballot early. It must reach your county auditor before polls close on November 3.
- Look up your state senator and representative with the Legislature’s Find Your Legislator tool.
- Read up on the issues on the ballot in Iowa: the minimum wage, abortion laws and marijuana laws.