DAVENPORT, Iowa — Iowa Democratic candidate Rob Sand attacked Republican Zach Lahn multiple times regarding his residency, alleging during the gubernatorial debate that Lahn is not a full-time Iowa resident despite seeking the governorship in the 2026 elections next month.
The first debate between Sand, the current Iowa auditor, and Lahn, a regenerative farmer, was held at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, roughly a week before early voting begins on Oct. 14.
To start, the debate focused on practical matters facing the state. But the topic of Lahn’s residency came to the fore after Sand referred to him as a “Kansan” during multiple heated exchanges, referencing the Republican’s home in Wichita and his votes in recent elections in Kansas.
“This is about the fact that you’re not an Iowan,” Sand said to Lahn. “There are 3.1 million people who live here, and they need to have a full-time Iowan.”
Sand addressed Lahn’s residency status with members of the press following the debate, saying the people of Iowa need a governor who lives 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 after the debate. “The point is that 3.1 million people won’t have a full-time governor.”
Lahn denounced the allegations, calling it the “central lie of Rob Sand’s campaign.”
“He’s attacking me based on my family and my children,” Lahn said.
Lahn is married to Annie Koch, the former daughter-in-law of Americans for Prosperity co-founder Charles Koch. The couple each have children from their previous marriages, in addition to a 2 year old from their marriage.
Lahn, a pilot, frequently flies back and forth between Iowa and Kansas to support his blended family. The Koch Foundation is based in Wichita.
The moderators asked Lahn about a statement he made in May that, if elected to the governorship, he and his family would be in Iowa “as much as humanly possible.” Lahn defended the statement by saying 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, referring to 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 said Lahn’s mention of his children was “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 said.
For his part, Lahn sought to portray Sand as too far left for Iowa, referring to him as “liberal” multiple times. He also called Sand a “COVID Karen” and said he was “in lockstep with Anthony Fauci” during the COVID-19 pandemic, referring to Sand’s support of mRNA vaccine mandates.
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“Rob Sand is radically liberal, and he’s not talking to people about where he really stands on things,” Lahn told the press following the debate.
The next debate between Sand and Lahn will be on Wednesday, Oct. 21.