By Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register
State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, raised more in 2025 than all his Republican challengers combined in the race for Iowa governor
Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand raised about $9.5 million last year, bringing his total fundraising for the 2026 election cycle to about $18 million — an aggressive benchmark for this election year.
It puts Sand in a strong financial position against Republicans, who tallied a combined $7.2 million between them. A hefty war chest will be critical for Sand as he works to offset the substantial leads Republicans hold in voter registration totals in Iowa.
Among the Republican field of governor candidates, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra leads with about $4.3 million raised and $3.2 million in cash on hand.
Jan. 20 marked the filing deadline for statewide candidates to disclose their fundraising numbers for the previous year to the state’s Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board. The fundraising period includes all of 2025, beginning Jan. 1 and running through Dec. 31.
The fundraising numbers are some of the first of the election cycle and provide hard data that help illuminate a crowded Republican primary field and a race that is expected to be among the most closely watched gubernatorial contests in the country.
Both Sand and Feenstra are claiming record-setting hauls.
Feenstra’s fundraising is the largest ever for a Republican candidate in the year preceding an election. And Sand’s is the largest-ever off-year haul.
“Iowans from every corner of the state and all political stripes are supporting Rob Sand as Iowa’s next governor because they know he will put them first and get to work on day one tackling Iowa’s toughest challenges,” Sand’s deputy campaign manager, Emma O’Brien, said in a statement.
Sand’s campaign said he tallied more than 115,000 donations from more than 64,000 individual contributors. His finance report was nearly 6,000 pages long.
Sand’s largest donors were Kirk Kirkegaard, $400,000; LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, $250,000; and former Iowa gubernatorial candidate Fred Hubbell, $200,000.
Another notable name: Illinois governor and potential 2028 presidential contender J.B. Pritzker gave Sand $50,000.
But Sand’s donor list is most notable this period for who it does not include: his wife or his in-laws.
During the previous filing period, they accounted for about $7 million of his $8.6 million haul, leading some Republicans to argue Sand lacked grassroots support. But they made no donations to Sand’s campaign during the past year.
The only other Democrat running for governor, political consultant Julie Stauch, had not filed a report with the state at the time of publication.
Randy Feenstra leads in GOP fundraising
Feenstra’s campaign touted his haul as evidence he is the “commanding frontrunner” in the race.
“Our campaign set this record of $4.3 million raised because Iowans believe in our vision to take our state to new heights and advance President Trump’s America First agenda in Iowa,” Feenstra said in a statement. “I’m grateful to everyone who has supported our campaign, and I look forward to earning the vote of every Iowan who wants to see a stronger Iowa.”
Feenstra’s congressional campaign, Feenstra for Congress, gave $100,000 to his gubernatorial effort. And Delivers PAC, which is a leadership PAC associated with Feenstra, according to OpenSecrets.org, also gave $164,200.
His biggest donor was Jeff Broin, the CEO of the biofuels company POET, who gave $250,000.
Republican Zach Lahn gives his campaign a $2 million boost
Behind Feenstra in cash on hand is businessman and former Americans for Prosperity staffer Zach Lahn, who is the most recent entrant into the governor’s race.
Lahn ended the fundraising period with about $2.1 million in his campaign coffers. But the bulk came from a $2 million loan Lahn gave to himself. He raised about $157,000 in cash contributions.
And although Lahn reported about $7,600 in spending, he also noted the campaign has more than $126,000 in unpaid bills that have not been subtracted from his cash on hand.
Other GOP candidates lag in fundraising
Former Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen rounded out the top three with about $500,000 raised and a little more than $336,000 in in the bank.
Get the Iowa Politics newsletter in your inbox.
Daily updates on the latest news from the Iowa Legislature, state and national politics.
Delivery: Mon-Fri
Your Email
Former state Rep. Brad Sherman, who was the first candidate to enter the race, raised about $200,000 last year and ends with about $85,000 in cash on hand.
Current State Rep. Eddie Andrews trails the pack with just $40,000 raised. He has about $5,00 in cash on hand.
The primary is scheduled for June 2.
Here’s a look at where all of the gubernatorial candidates stand in fundraising:
Rob Sand, Democrat
- Raised this period: $9,551,411
- Spent this period: $3,852,619
- Cash on hand: $13,210,512
Julie Stauch, Democrat
- Raised this period: $21,568
- Spent this period: $0
- Cash on hand: $21,568
Randy Feenstra, Republican
- Raised this period: $4,303,832
- Spent this period: $1,101,645
- Cash on hand: $3,202,186
Zach Lahn, Republican
- Raised this period: $156,931 (Lahn loaned himself $2 million)
- Spent this period: $7,694 in expenditures, plus $126,467 in unpaid bills
- Cash on hand: $2,149,238
Adam Steen, Republican
- Raised this period: $499,975
- Spent this period: $163,902
- Cash on hand: $336,073
Brad Sherman, Republican
- Raised this period: $201,815
- Spent this period: $125,076
- Cash on hand: $85,110
Eddie Andrews, Republican
- Raised this period: $40,285
- Spent this period: $35,156
- Cash on hand: $5,130
Stay in the know with stories that matter — visit HolaAmericaNews.com for the latest news, culture, and community updates!
Facebook Comments
