Iowa Democrats want to flip a US Senate seat
FOX Business reporter Grady Trimble reports on state Rep. Josh Turek and Sen. Zach Wahls of the district who are competing for the opportunity to challenge the GOP candidate for the US Senate in the important race of 'Special report.'
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Trump-backed Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, aligned with MAHA-backed Republican Zach Lahn after polls closed Tuesday night in Iowa's GOP gubernatorial primary.
Lahn, a farmer and businessman who campaigned on an “Iowa First” message, unleashed a surprising upset on Feenstra in the race to replace Gov. Kim Reynolds is a Republican.
Besides Feenstra, Lahn defeated former state Rep. Brad Sherman, former Iowa Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen and state Rep. Eddie Andrews in his bid to advance to the November general election and eventually the governor's mansion.
The result marked a major setback for Feenstra, who represents Iowa's Fourth Congressional District and entered Election Day as the best-known Republican in the race. Feenstra had a congressional profile, a fundraising advantage, the support of prominent Iowa Republicans, including former Gov. Terry Branstad, and a late endorsement from President Donald Trump.
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Lahn had a 1,600-vote lead over Feenstra just after midnight Eastern Time with 99% of the vote counted, according to an Associated Press election tracker.
Rep. Randy Feenstra speaks during Iowa's Roast and Ride at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Oct. 11, 2025. (Cody Scanlan/The Register/USA Today Network)
“I just called Zach Lahn, and I said, 'Hey, you've got to carry this light. We've got to keep this state red. You've got to make sure you beat Rob Sand.' And I'm ready to help him,” Feenstra told supporters at her election night rally, according to a video recording shared by Iowa News Now reporter Skylar Tallal.
Trump endorsed Feenstra just days before the primary, calling her a “MAGA all the way” and giving her a “Full and Complete Endorsement.” Feenstra campaigned as a close ally of the president, highlighting her support for Trump's agenda on border security, tax cuts, energy production and agriculture.
Lahn ran as an outsider and received the support of MAHA Action, a political group affiliated with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. His campaign website describes him as a father, farmer and businessman promoting an “Iowa First” agenda.
Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn is pictured with his family in a campaign photo. (Lahn for Governor)
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The race was opened after Reynolds announced he would not seek re-election despite being eligible to run for re-election, creating the first open gubernatorial race in Iowa since 2006. Republicans have held the governor's office since 2011.
Lahn will now face Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in November. Sand, the only Democratic state office holder in Iowa, advanced unopposed in the Democratic primary and has built a political reputation focused on government accountability and anti-corruption efforts.
The Democratic Party's nominee for governor of Iowa, Rob Sand. (Rob Sand For Iowa)
Early estimates suggested the general election could be competitive. The Cook Political Report moved the race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” in April, while Inside Elections rated the contest “Lean Republican.”
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If Sand wins in November, he will be the first Democratic governor elected in Iowa since Chet Culver won in 2006.
