Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn emphasized northwest Iowa’s role in the November election while outlining proposals involving agriculture, education, and opportunities for younger Iowans during a Sioux County campaign stop Thursday.
The meet-and-greet took place at property owned by Verlyn Sneller, founder and president of Terra Transitional Solutions. State Senator Jeff Taylor welcomed those attending, and State Representative Skyler Wheeler led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Lahn’s appearance came two days after his first debate with Democratic opponent and State Auditor Rob Sand.
Northwest Iowa Turnout and the Next Generation
Lahn told supporters he expects to spend considerable time in western and northwest Iowa during the campaign’s remaining weeks.
“We’re going to be camping out in the Fourth Congressional District in northwest Iowa, western Iowa, for a lot of the rest of the campaign. This is likely the most crucial area of the state for Republicans for getting out the vote.”
He encouraged those attending to reach out to friends, relatives, neighbors, and fellow church members. Lahn described the governor’s race as competitive and urged Republicans to remain engaged.
The Sioux City native also reflected on leaving Iowa as a young adult and later wanting his children to experience the community connections he remembered from his own upbringing.
He said keeping young people in Iowa requires opportunities for them to build careers, raise families, and establish businesses or farms. Lahn framed his decision to run around what he hopes to leave for future generations.
“I truly believe by me doing this, that my grandkids’ lives and your grandkids’ lives will be better. That’s the whole reason I’m running for the seat.”
Agricultural Competition and Education
Lahn argued that consolidation in agricultural industries has reduced competition and created additional challenges for farmers. He proposed increasing resources for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, with that funding designated for cases involving anticompetitive business practices.
“And one of the things I’m going to do with this is increase the Attorney General’s budget, but I’m going to earmark it specifically so it can only be spent for one thing, that is to start bringing anti-competition lawsuits against these companies that are extorting farmers, taking away competition.”
Lahn said he believes action in Iowa could encourage other states to pursue similar cases. He connected his emphasis on agricultural competition to his broader goal of creating more opportunities for families to remain in rural communities.
On education, Lahn supported giving public schools greater flexibility to test different approaches through innovation waivers. He described allowing parents to choose alternative instructional models within public schools and said successful approaches could help guide improvements.
“There is no such thing as a public school kid or a private school kid. There’s no such thing as a Republican or a Democrat kid. There’s just Iowa kids. That’s all there are, and they all deserve to have great opportunity.”
Lahn also called for additional one-on-one and small-group assistance for students whose behavioral needs interfere with classroom participation. He described that support as nonpunitive, to help students return to their classrooms.
He also criticized what he described as political agendas in classroom instruction and said education should reinforce the cultural foundations he believes have benefited Iowa.
Following his remarks, Lahn answered audience questions and spoke with reporters.
Lahn and Sand face each other in the November 3rd general election.
