# Iowa's populist gamble reshapes the heartland > As Iowa swings right, Democrats embrace populism and moderate messaging to compete in a state that's slipped from their grasp. - Title: Iowa's populist gamble reshapes the heartland · The New Yorker - Summary: As Iowa swings right, Democrats embrace populism and moderate messaging to compete in a state that's slipped from their grasp. Iowa Democrats are winning by… - Keywords: iowa, 2024 election, governor race, rob sand, josh turek, zach lahn, populism, rural voters, agriculture, water quality, democratic strategy, republican primary - Source: The New Yorker — https://newyorker.com/news/the-lede/a-populist-revival-in-iowa - Author: Peter Slevin - Published: 2026-09-21T10:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: iowa, 2024 election, governor race, rob sand, josh turek, zach lahn, populism, rural voters, agriculture, water quality, democratic strategy, republican primary ## Outsider wins Iowa GOP primary Zach Lahn, a first-time candidate who'd been a registered Iowa voter for only 19 months, narrowly beat Trump-endorsed Representative Randy Feenstra in the Republican gubernatorial primary on June 2nd. ## Lahn's unconventional background Lahn spent much of his career outside Iowa working for Republican politicians and the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity. He co-founded an alternative school in Wichita with Charles Koch's daughter-in-law, whom he later married. ## Part-time resident, deep roots claim Democrats call Lahn a part-time resident who still flies his plane to Kansas regularly. He counters by highlighting his family's Iowa heritage and recent investments: a refurbished family farm, a historic train depot, and a local movie theatre. ## Populist pitch against Big Ag Unusually for an Iowa Republican, Lahn promises to break up agricultural monopolies and tax hedge funds that own farmland. He frames his campaign as a repudiation of corporate interests and special interests. ## Lahn embraces MAGA and RFK Jr. Lahn draws support from the Make America Healthy Again movement and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who called him a superstar. He opposes COVID vaccines and vaccination requirements for schoolchildren. ## Lahn courts far-right endorsements Lahn welcomed an endorsement from Steve King, the far-right former U.S. House member stripped of committee assignments in 2019 for questioning why white nationalism is offensive. ## Democrats see an opening in Iowa The Cook Political Report rates the gubernatorial race as leaning Democratic. Iowa's Senate seat is a surprise tossup, and at least two House seats are too close to call, despite Republicans holding all four. ## Iowa's economic troubles mount Young people are leaving the state. Rural health clinics are closing despite high cancer rates. A flat income tax and Trump's tariffs have strained budgets, while beef imports and fuel costs have hurt farmers. ## Democrats play the moderate card Rob Sand and Josh Turek avoid strong partisan messaging, criticizing both parties and barely owning the Democratic label. They know Republicans make up 40 percent of voters and 31 percent are independents. ## Sand's anti-establishment message The Democratic auditor routinely calls the two-party system broken and refers to parties as private clubs. He favors term limits, cognitive exams for politicians, and avoids attacking Trump by name. > Why do we have to be Democrats and Republicans? Says who? ## Sand's calculated political rise Sand turned down Harvard Law School for University of Iowa and spent seven years as a state prosecutor. He cracked the Hot Lotto case involving a rigged 16.5 million dollar jackpot and was elected auditor in 2018. ## Sand's family wealth advantage Sand married Christine Lauridsen, a Harvard Business School graduate from a prominent Iowa agribusiness family. She and her family have contributed nearly 12 million dollars to his campaign. ## Sand's unifying campaign style Sand uses green and orange yard signs instead of patriotic colors. At rallies, he asks Republicans and independents to raise their hands, then leads crowds in singing America the Beautiful. ## Turek's Paralympic gold story Josh Turek was born with spina bifida, likely from his father's Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. He became a four-time Paralympian and wheelchair basketball star whose U.S. teams won gold in 2016 and 2021. ## Turek defines prairie populism Turek describes himself as a prairie populist focused on livable wages, affordable housing and healthcare, and fighting corruption. He emphasizes he owns no stock and is not a multimillionaire. ## Water quality becomes central issue Chris Jones, a retired University of Iowa scientist running for agriculture commissioner, highlights Iowa's dangerously high nitrate concentrations from agricultural runoff and calls for stronger regulation. ## Candidates avoid farming regulation Sand, Turek, and Lahn all oppose the Supreme Court's Monsanto liability shield but none calls for significant farming interventions. They prefer financial incentives for environmentally friendly practices. ## Swing voters still undecided Denny Whalen, a retired teacher, initially felt torn between Sand and Lahn but ultimately decided to vote for Sand, believing both parties have become too extreme. > I'm really torn between Rob Sand and the guy that doesn't live in Iowa. ## Key takeaway Iowa Democrats are winning by sounding less like Democrats, emphasizing rural concerns and anti-establishment rhetoric while Republicans fracture over populist challenges to corporate agriculture.