DAVENPORT, Iowa — Iowa Democratic candidate Rob Sand criticized Republican Zach Lahn during the gubernatorial debate regarding Lahn's residency, claiming he is not a full-time Iowa resident despite running for governor in the 2026 elections next month.
The first debate between Sand, the current Iowa auditor, and Lahn, a regenerative farmer, took place at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, approximately one week before early voting begins on October 14.
Initially, the debate addressed practical issues facing the state. However, the topic of Lahn’s residency became prominent after Sand referred to him as a "Kansan" during several exchanges, citing Lahn's home in Wichita and his voting history in Kansas.
“This is about the fact that you’re not an Iowan,” Sand stated to Lahn. “There are 3.1 million people who live here, and they need to have a full-time Iowan.”
After the debate, Sand reiterated to the press that Iowa requires a governor who resides solely in the state. “Whatever his obligations are in Kansas — it doesn’t matter what they are — the fact is that he has obligations in Kansas,” Sand said. “The point is that 3.1 million people won’t have a full-time governor.”
Lahn rejected the accusations, labeling them as the “central lie of Rob Sand’s campaign.”
“He’s attacking me based on my family and my children,” Lahn remarked. Lahn is married to Annie Koch, the former daughter-in-law of Americans for Prosperity co-founder Charles Koch. The couple has children from previous marriages as well as a two-year-old from their current marriage.
As a pilot, Lahn frequently travels between Iowa and Kansas to support his blended family. The Koch Foundation is located in Wichita.
The moderators questioned Lahn about a statement he made in May, indicating that if elected, he and his family would be in Iowa “as much as humanly possible.” Lahn defended this by stating he was referring to his children.
“I will spend whatever effort necessary to defend my children from people who’d like to exploit them, like you,” Lahn said, addressing Sand. “And my promise to the voters of Iowa is I will also defend your children from people who would like to exploit them, like Rob.”
Following the debate, Sand described Lahn’s mention of his children as “pretty bizarre.”
“He wants to make it sound like something it’s not because he knows that being a part-time resident of a state that you’re trying to be the governor in is going to make more people say, ‘Well I don’t know why you’re applying for this job,’” Sand commented.
Lahn aimed to depict Sand as too liberal for Iowa, referring to him as “liberal” multiple times and calling him a “COVID Karen,” criticizing Sand’s support of mRNA vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Rob Sand is radically liberal, and he’s not talking to people about where he really stands on things,” Lahn told the press after the debate.
The next debate between Sand and Lahn is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21.