Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is officially locked into the state's gubernatorial race, setting up a matchup against Republican Zach Lane. On The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller noted that "it'll be Rob Sand running against him" following Lane's primary victory.
The commentary surrounding Sand's prospects is decidedly optimistic, focusing on his potential to win over rural voters squeezed by inflation. Speaking on The Bulwark Podcast, commentator Luke Russert described him as "a very common sense Democrat for Iowa, without doubt," pointing out that rising fertilizer and fuel costs will help farmers see the differences between the parties.
Despite Iowa's recent red shift, Russert remains bullish on the matchup. "I think Rob Sand's a good candidate in the governor's race," he asserted, even while acknowledging that Iowa Republicans have won their last three races by pretty comfortable margins. The coming months will test whether Sand's brand of fiscal pragmatism can overcome the state's polarization.