Iowa gubernatorial candidates face scrutiny over endorsements and funding

The Iowa gubernatorial race between Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn has seen new developments regarding endorsements and campaign financing.

Rob Sand has secured endorsements from dozens of current and former public safety officials, including several county attorneys and sheriffs, who cite his bipartisan approach and experience as a prosecutor. In contrast, Zach Lahn has received an endorsement from the National Rifle Association’s Political Action Committee, with his campaign characterizing Sand as a supporter of gun control.

Lahn’s campaign has also launched an advertisement targeting Sand’s campaign funding. The ad highlights that Sand has received approximately $13 million in contributions from the Lauridsen family, whose holding company, the Lauridsen Group, owns businesses such as Boyer Valley Company and Essentia Protein Solutions. The advertisement points to the environmental record of these companies, noting past enforcement actions by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources involving illegal discharges into local waterways.