Sand, Feenstra launch campaign ads as race rated 'toss-up' by political forecasters

The fire, the vote, the triumph — when it happens, Decorah News shows up. Support us being there. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra launched political ads for their gubernatorial campaigns Wednesday as political pundits predict a tighter 2026 race than previously expected. Sand, a Democrat, released his first ad Wednesday titled "Stealing is Bad," a 30-second spot that will play on TV, streaming and digital platforms, according to his campaign. In the video — part of a statewide six-figure ad buy — Sand highlights his experience investigating and prosecuting of misuse and fraud in government as assistant attorney general under former AG Tom Miller, and in his current role as state auditor. "Call me old-fashioned, I'd say stealing is bad," Sand said in the ad. "That's why I locked up corrupt public officials as a prosecutor. And as state auditor, I uncovered record amounts of misspent tax dollars. Insiders didn't like that. So they changed the law to make it harder for me to find your misspent tax money. That's bad, too." Sand referenced Senate File 478, a law signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in June 2023, which limits the state auditor's ability to seek court action when state agencies, departments, boards, commissions and statewide elected officials do not comply with the auditor's office request for certain information. While the auditor could previously go to court for subpoena enforcement, the law instead directs these disputes to a board of arbitration, which includes the auditor's office, the entity being audited, and a third member appointed by the governor. Sand has said this law makes it more difficult to uncover corruption in the state. The auditor has brought up instances where the law was cited to deny the auditor's office access to certain information, like in 2024, when the Iowa Board of Parole disputed the need to send documentation to the office showing a problem was resolved with a board member not attending hearings as required by state law. Spokespersons for Reynolds' office have disputed Sand's characterizations of these disputes, saying Sand's office did not send letters of engagement to conduct audits. In his campaign to become Iowa's next governor, Sand said he plans to continue his work on public accountability in state government. "I'm bringing that fight to the governor's office to bring an end to the decade of one-party rule and sweetheart deals for insiders that have left Iowa families behind," Sand said in a statement. "Our elected officials are focused on all the wrong things — like culture wars and gutting the Auditor's Office. As Iowa's next governor, I'll get back to the basics and make sure Iowans — not insiders, special interest groups, or corrupt politicians — come first." The candidate's proposal in the ad to "make jail time mandatory for public officials who misuse your tax dollars" is part of Sand's "Accountability for All" plan, introduced earlier in April. In addition to proposals to set mandatory prison sentences for people convicted of stealing over $10,000 in taxpayer dollars, the plan also proposes banning elected officials from stock trading and setting age and term limits for public office. Sand is unopposed on the June 2 Democratic primary ballot for governor. But Republicans voting in the Iowa primaries will have a choice of five candidates listed on their ballot — Feenstra, former Iowa Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen, farmer and businessman Zach Lahn, Iowa Rep. Eddie Andrews and former state lawmaker Brad Sherman. Feenstra ad highlights tax, farm and business goals Feenstra also launched an ad Wednesday titled "Hard Work," where the GOP candidate describes his goals to lower and freeze property taxes in the state, "rip out regulations" on farms and small businesses, and attract new businesses if elected governor. In the ad, Feenstra, who currently represents Iowa's 4th Congressional District in Congress, called himself a "Trump conservative who knows government isn't the solution — it's the problem." "With me, big government liberals will never win," Feenstra said. "Iowa was built by people who work, not politicians who take." Congressman Randy Feenstra speaks at a Republican candidate forum in Cherokee on May 30, 2024. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch) The video was the third spot in a multimillion-dollar ad campaign on television, digital, streaming, and mail, according to his campaign. In a news release, Feenstra reiterated his alignment with President Donald Trump, saying he would aim to "work with President Trump to take Iowa to new heights and make life more affordable for our families" if elected governor. Race listed as toss-up The new ad buys come as there is more attention on Iowa's gubernatorial race in 2026 than in previous recent elections — an open race for the first time in more than a decade as Reynolds announced she would not seek another term as governor. Last week, the Cook Political Report moved its forecast for the Iowa governor race from "leans Republican" to a "toss-up." Iowa Democrats have said this shift signals that Iowans are dissatisfied with GOP leadership. Iowa's federal delegation is made up entirely of Republicans, there is a GOP trifecta at the Statehouse, and Sand is the only Democrat to currently hold statewide elected office in Iowa. "Iowa Republicans know they're vulnerable in November after Kim Reynolds and a decade of one-party rule wrecked the economy, shortchanged our schools, and ripped away access to health care," Iowa Democratic Party spokesperson Terra Hernandez said in a statement. "Now Randy Feenstra, Adam Steen, Zach Lahn, Brad Sherman, and Eddie Andrews are staring down a nasty showdown in June while they double down on the same insider-first failures that have left working families behind." Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.