Iowa Governor: Sand 50%, Lahn 45%

Democrat state auditor Rob Sand leads Republican businessman Zach Lahn in the race to replace outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds in Iowa.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that, if the election were held today, 50% of Likely Iowa voters would vote for Sand, while 45% would vote for Lahn. Five percent (5%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

In a state Donald Trump won by a 13-point margin in 2024, Sand could become the first Democrat elected governor since 2006.

Sand is supported by 89% of Democrats, 13% of Republicans, and 57% of voters not affiliated with either major party. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Republicans would vote for Lahn, as would nine percent (9%) of Democrats and 35% of unaffiliated voters Eight percent (8%) of unaffiliated voters are still undecided.

(Not getting our eNewsletter? Sign up HERE. Already signed up? Try adding update@rasmussenreports.com to your contacts or whitelisting us. Still having trouble – email subscriptions@rasmussenreports.com. If it's in the news, it's in our polls).

Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The survey of 901 Iowa Likely Voters was conducted on October 27-31, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

The “gender gap” in Iowa’s gubernatorial election is a net 22 points. Women voters prefer Sand by a 16-point margin, 52% to 40%, while Lahn leads 51% to 45% among men.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of whites, 61% of black voters, 70% of Hispanics and 47% of other minorities would vote for Sand, while Lahn is supported by 46% of whites, 31% of black voters, 29% of Hispanics and 52% of other minorities.

Sand leads by an 18-point margin among voters under 30, and by 16 points among those 65 and older. Lahn has a 10-point lead among voters in theri 30s, and leads by five points among those ages 50 to 64.

Eighty-eight percent (88%) of self-identified Very Liberal voters in Iowa support Sand, while 84% of Very Conservative voters favor Lahn. Among moderate voters, Sand leads by a 29-point margin, 63% to 34%.

Sand leads among college-educated voters and among those at both the high and low ends of the income categories.

Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson has moved ahead of Democrat state Rep. Josh Turek in the race to fill the Iowa Senate seat vacated by the retirement of Republican Sen. Joni Ernst.

On the eve of the midterm elections, the Democratic Party leads Republicans by six points in the battle to control the House of Representatives. 

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to the public as well as to Platinum Members.

Please sign up for the Rasmussen Reports daily e-mail update (it’s free) or follow us on Facebook. Let us keep you up to date with the latest public opinion news.