{"id":2647926,"date":"2026-08-21T16:17:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T20:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rob-sand-and-josh-turek-dont-want-harris-campaigning-for-them-in-iowa\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T16:19:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T20:19:49","slug":"rob-sand-and-josh-turek-dont-want-harris-campaigning-for-them-in-iowa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rob-sand-and-josh-turek-dont-want-harris-campaigning-for-them-in-iowa\/","title":{"rendered":"Rob Sand and Josh Turek don&#8217;t want Harris campaigning for them in Iowa"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/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%2Frob-sand-and-josh-turek-dont-want-harris-campaigning-for-them-in-iowa%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=2647926&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>Two leading democratic candidates in iowa are distancing themselves from Vice President Kamala Harris, preferring too avoid her involvement or endorsements to maintain their electoral prospects in a traditionally Republican-leaning state. Rob Sand, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, explicitly stated he does not want Harris to endorse or campaign for him, unlike in 2018 when she supported his prosperous campaign. Similarly, Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek has also rejected Harris&#8217;s support to appeal to Iowa\u2019s conservative voters, outperforming Harris in his district during the 2024 elections. Iowa has shifted from being a democratic-leaning state in Obama\u2019s wins to a solidly Republican one in recent years, with Trump securing significant victories. Despite this, Democrats see potential for political gains in this cycle due to rising competitiveness in statewide races, but they remain cautious about associations with Harris to avoid alienating voters.The trend of avoiding Harris\u2019s endorsement is not limited to iowa, as other Democrats in conservative states, such as Alaska and South Carolina, have also distanced themselves from her support, emphasizing local grassroots focus over national figures.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>EXCLUSIVE \u2014<\/strong> Two of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"468\">Iowa<\/a>\u2018s top Democratic candidates are keeping former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"748\">Kamala Harris<\/a> at arm\u2019s length as the party looks to capitalize on newfound momentum in the red-leaning state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A campaign spokesperson for Rob Sand, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Iowa, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the campaign does not want an endorsement from Harris, nor does it want her to appear at any campaign rallies or have any involvement with Sand\u2019s campaign. The position marks a stark contrast with 2018, when Harris supported Sand\u2019s successful campaign for Iowa state auditor.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4696635\/rob-sand-josh-turek-do-not-want-kamala-harris-campaign-iowa\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rob Sand and Josh Turek don\u2019t want Kamala Harris to campaign for them in Iowa<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4695838\/buttigieg-south-carolina-trump-tries-to-patch-up-graham-nordones-debate-slip\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Buttigieg heads to South Carolina as Trump tries to patch up Graham Nordone\u2019s debate gaffe<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4692828\/trump-96-percent-endorsement-success-rate-republicans-he-backed-who-lost\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump has a 96% endorsement success rate. Here are the Republicans he\u2019s backed who have lost<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek similarly does not want Harris near his campaign against Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) to replace retiring Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turek\u2019s campaign told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> he has no plans to campaign with Harris and is not seeking her support. In 2024, Turek, an Iowa state representative, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bleedingheartland.com\/2024\/12\/08\/these-seven-iowa-lawmakers-overcame-headwinds-at-top-of-the-ticket\/\">outperformed<\/a> Harris by roughly 13 points in his district, illustrating the dramatically different political coalitions the two Democrats assembled in Iowa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iowa has become increasingly red during the past decade. Former President Barack Obama won Iowa in both of his White House campaigns. In 2008, Obama carried the state by 9 percentage points over Republican presidential nominee John McCain. Four years later, Obama defeated GOP nominee Mitt Romney there by nearly 6 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2016, President Donald Trump won Iowa by 10 points over Democrat Hillary Clinton. He won it again in 2020 and carried it by 13.2 points over Harris in 2024 \u2014 the widest margin of victory for a presidential candidate in the state since 1972.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, Iowa Democrats appear to be on the cusp of reviving their political fortunes statewide this cycle. This week, the Cook Political Report moved the Iowa gubernatorial race from a toss-up to leans Democratic. It also changed Iowa\u2019s Senate race from leans Republican to a toss-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">University of Iowa political scientist Timothy Hagle noted in an interview that Republicans hold a roughly 190,000-voter registration advantage in the state, a gap that has grown over the last several election cycles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have an open Senate seat, an open governor\u2019s race, and I think that the nominees in those races and sort of a lot of Iowa Democrats more generally sort of understand they don\u2019t want to spoil that by appearing to be too far to the left on issues,\u201d Hagle said. \u201cAnd so if they were to associate with Kamala Harris, it could be a problem for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The distancing from Harris in red states is not new for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4689881\/south-carolina-kamala-harris-2028-strategists-weigh-in-black-voters\/\">SOUTH CAROLINA\u2019S MOVE TO FRONT OF 2028 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CALENDAR COULD BENEFIT KAMALA HARRIS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alaska Democratic Senate candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4688435\/peltola-rejects-kamala-harris-endorsement-alaska-senate-race\/\">Mary Peltola rejected<\/a> a Harris fundraising email sent on her behalf last week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMary isn\u2019t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 \u2013 her focus is and always will be Alaska,\u201d a Peltola spokesperson <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alaskasnewssource.com\/2026\/08\/14\/peltola-pushes-back-against-kamala-harris-support-saying-she-isnt-looking-an-endorsement-former-vice-president\/\">told a local news outlet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iowa Dems Avoid Harris Support Amid Red Shift<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2647927,"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\/2026\/08\/image-collage-m8lw7ffwl-1787340036183.jpg?1787325798&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[69771,63462,55070],"class_list":["post-2647926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-iowa-politics","tag-josh-turek","tag-rob-sand"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-m8lw7ffwl-1787340036183.jpg?1787325798&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647926","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\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2647926"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647930,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2647926\/revisions\/2647930"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2647927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2647926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2647926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2647926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}