Democratic
Rob Sand
Major-party general-election nominee.
VotePredictor forecast
Rob Sand favored
Lean D · predicted margin D+4.6
83%
chance to win
Poll-driven model · 10 matched polls. Full forecast history and methodology →
Republican
Zach Lahn
Major-party general-election nominee.
Other listed candidates
- Sondra Wilson · Independent
Polls
| Pollster | Date | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| The New York Times/Siena University | 2026-10-01 | D+11.0 |
| Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research | 2026-09-28 | D+9.0 |
| FiftyPlusOne | 2026-09-20 | D+7.3 |
| Marist University | 2026-09-20 | D+12.0 |
| co/efficient | 2026-09-16 | D+4.0 |
| Cygnal | 2026-09-11 | D+4.0 |
| YouGov | 2026-09-08 | D+10.0 |
| Emerson College | 2026-09-01 | D+3.0 |
| Wedgewood Polls | 2026-08-29 | D+5.0 |
| Suffolk University | 2026-08-23 | D+4.2 |
Other forecasts
Cook
Lean D (flip)
as of Oct. 1, 2026
IE
Tilt D (flip)
as of Oct. 1, 2026
Sabato
Lean D (flip)
as of Oct. 6, 2026
RCP
Lean D (flip)
as of Oct. 5, 2026
Fox
Lean D (flip)
as of Oct. 6, 2026
Silver
Solid D (flip)
as of Oct. 7, 2026
DDHQ
Lean D (flip)
as of Oct. 2, 2026
Published ratings are categorical, not probabilities, and remain independent of VotePredictor. Sources and update dates ↗
Past results
Every Iowa election for governor we hold a result for.
YearWinnerMargin
Candidate news
Zach Lahn’s residency history and Rob Sand’s party come under fire in first Iowa governor debate
Republican Zach Lahn and Democrat Rob Sand repeatedly returned to one topic over the course of their first debate Tuesday night in the race to be Iowa’s next governor: questions over Lahn’s residency history in the state.
NBC News · Yesterday
Kansas governor exposes Iowa Republican's carpetbagging in brutal ad: 'Time to come back'
A new attack ad hit the airwaves on Tuesday, featuring Gov. Laura Kelly (D-KS), exposing Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn for not fully living in the state where he is running."Kansas Governor Laura Kelly here," said Kelly. "It's my great hon…
Raw Story · October 6, 2026
Rob Sand vs. Zach Lahn: Latest Polls as Iowa Governor Candidates Debate
Democrats have spent much of the past decade watching Iowa move steadily toward the GOP. But less than a month before Election Day, the state's governor's race is raising an increasingly serious question: Is Iowa beginning to shift back? Democratic State Audi…
Biztoc.com · October 6, 2026
Exclusive—Zach Lahn: Rob Sand Running as Moderate but Has ‘Radically Liberal Views, Is Not Being Honest About Who He Is'; Iowa Race a ‘Fight for the Culture’
Iowa GOP Gov. nominee Zach Lahn outlines his turnout strategy and credits Republican leadership for a $15 billion steel investment in a Breitbart interview,. The post Exclusive—Zach Lahn: Rob Sand Running as Moderate but Has ‘Radically Liberal Views, Is Not B…
Breitbart News · October 3, 2026
Iowa Democrat Governor Candidate Rob Sand Called Himself ‘Extremely Liberal,’ Defended Green New Deal
Iowa Democrat gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand defended the Green New Deal and opposed an Iowa bill defining sex as "either male or female as observed or clinically verified at birth.” The post Iowa Democrat Governor Candidate Rob Sand Called Himself ‘Extreme…
Breitbart News · September 30, 2026
Trump OKs dyed-diesel tax break, helping farmers and truckers save BIGLY
President Donald Trump has taken a major step to shield American truckers and farmers from the high cost of fuel.On Monday, Trump signed an executive order allowing them to use dyed diesel without paying a federal penalty.'The president listened to farmers an…
TheBlaze · October 6, 2026
Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 4, 2026
On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Zach Lahn, Iowa GOP nominee for governor, join Margaret Brennan.
CBS News · October 4, 2026