Zach Lahn Projected to Win Iowa GOP Governor Primary, Upsetting Trump's Pick in a State Democrats Hope to Flip
Updated on: June 3, 2026 / 9:08 AM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Zach Lahn won the Republican primary for Iowa governor.
- Lahn's victory came over Rep. Randy Feenstra, who was endorsed by former President Trump.
- Lahn, a farmer and businessman, focused his campaign on a "Iowa First" platform.
- He will face Democrat Rob Sand, the current state auditor, in the general election.
- The race is considered one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests this year.
- Iowa has trended Republican in recent years, but Democrats see potential for a flip.
- Governor Reynolds is not seeking reelection, making this the first open gubernatorial election in two decades.
- Sand has a significant fundraising advantage over Lahn.