This story is part of Sioux County Radio’s “Road to Iowa Governor 2026” interview series, featuring conversations with candidates seeking Iowa’s top office ahead of the 2026 election.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand says his campaign is focused on moving beyond party labels and addressing major issues facing Iowa, including healthcare, property taxes, and government accountability.
Sand, who currently serves as Iowa’s State Auditor, says voters are increasingly frustrated with partisan politics and want leaders focused on practical solutions.
Sand is originally from Decorah and previously worked as a public corruption prosecutor in the Iowa Attorney General’s Office before being elected state auditor, a position he has now held for two terms.
He says Iowa’s economic performance is a major concern, pointing to national rankings that show the state falling behind.
Property taxes remain a top issue for many Iowans, and Sand says recent changes have made housing less affordable. He says lawmakers have made it harder to build new housing, which has increased costs for families and renters. Sand adds that if elected, he expects to work with a Republican-controlled legislature and believes divided government could lead to better decisions.
Sand says healthcare is one of his top priorities, particularly Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system.
Iowa continues to rank among the highest states in the nation for cancer rates, which Sand says should be addressed through prevention, which he says should include radon testing and mitigation, public education, and stronger monitoring of water quality.
Sand says his background as a corruption prosecutor and state auditor has shaped his approach to leadership, with a focus on accountability and transparency.
Sand currently leads the race in fundraising. According to state campaign finance reports, he raised more than $9.5 million in 2025 alone and now sits at roughly $18 million total heading into the election cycle, coming from about 117,000 individual donations, many of them small-dollar contributions. His campaign says those totals include contributions from more than 1,200 registered Republicans and over 4,000 no-party voters.
Sand is one of several candidates seeking the open governor’s seat in 2026, following Governor Kim Reynolds’ decision not to seek another term.
Sioux County Radio will wrap up the Democratic portion of its “Road to Iowa Governor 2026” series next week with an interview featuring Julie Stauch, political strategist and executive coach.
See the last candidate we featured in the series right here.
The photo was submitted by Rob Sand’s campaign
