{"id":2433623,"date":"2025-05-12T11:48:02","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T15:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-state-auditor-democrat-rob-sand-announces-run-for-governor\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T11:49:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T15:49:20","slug":"iowa-state-auditor-democrat-rob-sand-announces-run-for-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-state-auditor-democrat-rob-sand-announces-run-for-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa state auditor Democrat Rob Sand announces run for governor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fiowa-state-auditor-democrat-rob-sand-announces-run-for-governor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2433623&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrat Rob Sand, currently serving as Iowa&#8217;s State Auditor, has announced his candidacy for governor in 2026. Having previously won the auditor position by defeating a Republican incumbent in 2018, Sand is currently the only Democrat holding a statewide elected office in Iowa. He emphasizes his campaign&#8217;s focus on &#8220;more public service and less politics.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>sand plans to enter a competitive race, notably after Republican Governor Kim Reynolds decided not to seek reelection.He has highlighted his experience as a prosecutor and introduced cost-cutting measures within the Iowa state government. His campaign has garnered over $8 million in contributions. One of his key proposals is to legalize marijuana, suggesting it should be treated similarly to alcohol, arguing it would benefit Iowa economically.<\/p>\n<p>despite Iowa&#8217;s recent trend towards Republican candidates, Sand believes he can attract both autonomous and Republican voters, noting his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-james-announces-bid-for-michigan-governor-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"John James announces ... for Michigan ... - Washington Examiner\">previous electoral success<\/a> in a state that swings between political parties.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Iowa state auditor Democrat Rob Sand announces run for governor<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2103839\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Iowa<\/a>&rsquo;s State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, announced a run for governor in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Sand is currently the only Democrat in a statewide elected office in Iowa after being elected to the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state auditor position<\/a> in 2018, defeating the Republican incumbent Mary Mosiman. He said he was running because &ldquo;we need more public service and less politics.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3408166\/georgia-insurance-commissioner-john-king-senate-ossoff\/\">Georgia Insurance Commissioner John King launches bid for US Senate seat against Ossoff<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3220326\/five-democrats-prime-position-face-party-2028\/\">The Democrats in prime position to be face of the party in 2028<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3406743\/two-key-house-committees-gear-up-heated-hearings-trump-megabill\/\">Two key House committees gear up for heated hearings to pass Trump megabill<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;A lot of politicians yap about making a place redder or bluer. I want Iowa to be better and truer,&rdquo; Sand said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RobSandIA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">video<\/a> announcement.<\/p>\n<p>Sand touted his experience as a prosecutor and creating cost-cutting methods in the Iowa state government.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3378420\/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-will-not-seek-reelection-house-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">announced<\/a> last month she would not seek reelection. A number of Republicans are considering a gubernatorial run, including Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, and Iowa Attorney General Breanna Bird. Former Republican State Rep. Brad Sherman already announced his bid.<\/p>\n<p>Sand is entering the race with more than $8 million in campaign contributions.<\/p>\n<p>One big change Sand said he would push for, if elected governor, would be legalizing marijuana in the state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a couple of things that are very easy to do. Number one, treat marijuana the same way we treat alcohol. Right. Iowans are leaving the state, bringing their dollars to other states, filling their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schumer-spokesman-celebrates-1-9-trillion-covid-relief-plan-erases-ny-budget-deficit\/\" title=\"Schumer Spokesman Celebrates: .9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan Erases NY Budget Deficit\">state government coffers<\/a>. For that, let&rsquo;s do it here in Iowa. I think that that&rsquo;s the right thing to do. That would have a tremendous impact,&rdquo; Sand told NBC 13 Des Moines.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">In 2024, neighboring Illinois&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/gov.illinois.gov\/news\/press-release.30910.htmlhttps:\/\/gov.illinois.gov\/news\/press-release.30910.html\" target=\"_blank\">generated<\/a>&nbsp;$490 million in tax revenue from marijuana sales.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3378420\/iowa-governor-kim-reynolds-will-not-seek-reelection-house-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>KIM REYNOLDS&rsquo;S RETIREMENT IN IOWA HAS HOUSE REPUBLICANS EYEING GOVERNOR&rsquo;S SEAT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The once swing state has been trending Republican in the last several election cycles. Sand acknowledged the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-red-state-democratic-senators-in-different-places-going-into-2024\/\" title=\"Three red ... ...ic senators in different places going into 2024\">challenging race ahead<\/a>, noting his reelection to the state audit position in 2022. He was the only Democrat to win a statewide office that year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Iowans that we&rsquo;re talking about &mdash; who voted for Donald Trump, then me, then Donald Trump, then me, then Donald Trump &mdash; I think they&rsquo;ll vote for me again,&rdquo; Sand <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcci.com\/article\/iowa-democrat-rob-sand-launches-campaign-for-governor\/64731955\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">told<\/a> KCCI Des Moines. &ldquo;They know me. They know that my approach to things is not really Democratic. It&rsquo;s not Republican either.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2103839\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2103839\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, declares candidacy for governor in 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2433624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rob-sand.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4912,4173,5626,55070,54769],"class_list":["post-2433623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-democrat","tag-governor","tag-iowa","tag-rob-sand","tag-state-auditor"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rob-sand.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2433623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2433623"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2433623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2433627,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2433623\/revisions\/2433627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2433624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2433623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2433623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2433623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}