DES MOINES — Democratic candidate for governor and current Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand used a high‑profile appearance at the Iowa State Fair to call for political unity and to promise bipartisan appointments if voters send him to the governor’s office.
Speaking at the Des Moines Register’s Soapbox on Saturday, Sand drew a crowd of several hundred fairgoers as the state heads into the home stretch of the midterm campaign, with roughly 80 days remaining until Election Day. He positioned his record as auditor as evidence that he can work across party lines and said he would carry that approach into the governor’s mansion.
“The idea is people who supported my opponent — I’ll have people who supported my opponent in my cabinet,”
Sand directly criticized what he described as a decade of Republican control in state government and urged voters to consider how concentrated political power has shaped policy and governance in Iowa. He said the current system privileges insiders and special interests over everyday Iowans and framed his campaign as an effort to change that balance.
“When too few people have too much power, for too long, bad things happen,” Sand told the crowd, and urged that politics not be built around animosity. He advised fairgoers against what he called attempts to divide communities, encouraging them instead to focus on cooperation and mutual respect.
Sand faces a Republican‑leaning legislature if he is elected, a dynamic he acknowledged in his remarks. His GOP opponent, Zach Lahn, also used State Fair events to reach voters: Lahn spoke at the fair on Friday.
Campaign tone and strategy
Sand’s message at the Soapbox emphasized outreach beyond the Democratic base. By pledging to appoint people who supported his opponent to cabinet roles, he sought to underscore a theme of inclusion and practical governance rather than partisan retribution. The pledge is a political choice that seeks to reassure moderate and independent voters concerned about polarization.
Sand’s criticism of a decade of Republican leadership echoed broader Democratic talking points about accountability and the influence of entrenched interests. He framed his proposed approach as reversing what he called insider advantages and restoring attention to the daily concerns of Iowans.
What voters should know
- Who spoke: Rob Sand, current Iowa State Auditor and Democratic candidate for governor.
- Where: Des Moines Register’s Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair.
- When in the campaign: Approximately 80 days before the midterm election.
The contest will play out in a state where the legislature is controlled by Republicans, an important consideration for any incoming governor. That reality could limit or shape the scope of Sand’s agenda even if he wins the governorship.
| Candidate | Current Office | State Fair Appearance |
|---|---|---|
| Rob Sand | State Auditor | Saturday — Des Moines Register’s Soapbox |
| Zach Lahn | Republican gubernatorial candidate | Friday — Iowa State Fair |
For voters weighing the pledge of bipartisan appointments, practical considerations include how cabinet selection interacts with legislative confirmations, statutory authority and administrative priorities. The GOP majority in the legislature could influence the confirmation or implementation of any governor’s policy agenda.
Sand’s remarks at the fair also spoke to the campaign’s broader tone. By calling for cooperation and for respecting neighbors across political lines, he sought to counter the fierce polarization that many voters say is affecting state and national politics. Whether that rhetoric will translate into votes remains a central question as the campaign moves into the final two months.
Statewide campaigns traditionally use the Iowa State Fair to reach a mix of urban and rural voters in an informal setting. The Soapbox appearance gave Sand a platform for direct engagement and for testing that message in front of a diverse crowd of Iowans attending the fair.
The campaign calendar now moves toward a fall push. With 80 days to go, both sides are expected to increase advertising, visiting communities across the state and sharpening policy contrasts. Sand’s promise of cross‑party appointments is likely to be a recurring theme as he seeks to broaden his appeal beyond the Democratic base.
Reporting for this story was based on the candidate’s remarks at the Iowa State Fair.
