This story was originally published on March 10. It was updated March 17, at 12:25 p.m., to include the final list of candidates for governor.
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Five Republicans and one Democrat will appear as candidates for governor on Iowa ballots in the June 2 primary elections, according to the final candidate list released Monday by the Iowa Secretary of State's Office.
State law requires candidates for governor to collect at least 3,500 signatures to get on the ballot, including 100 signatures from 19 different counties.
The candidates set to appear on the GOP primary ballots are:
- U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra
- State Rep. Eddie Andrews
- Former state Rep. Brad Sherman
- Former Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen
- Businessman and farmer Zach Lahn
The only Democratic candidate to qualify for the primary ballot was State Auditor Rob Sand.
Rob Sand is the only Democratic candidate
Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand turned in 24,756 signatures to qualify for the ballot, which he said breaks the state record for petition signatures for any elected office.
Sand said more than one-fifth of the signatures came from no-party voters and Republicans. He said this is proof that his campaign has momentum, and it shows Iowans are interested in a new direction for the state.
“In fact, we are very close to 100 signatures in all 99 counties for this,” Sand said. “So that we’re showing not just strength in heavily populated areas, but no matter where you live in the state of Iowa, you’ve got neighbors that signed to help us get on the ballot here.”
Sand has held 100 town hall events across the state each year as state auditor and said he will start this year’s tour in the summer.
Political strategist Julie Stauch also turned in paperwork to get on the Democratic primary ballot, but the Secretary of State's Office determined she did not submit sufficient signatures to qualify. That leaves Sand as the only candidate listed on the Democratic primary ballot.
Randy Feenstra launches major ad campaign as primary election approaches
U.S. 4th Congressional District Rep. Randy Feenstra, who has been seen as the likely frontrunner in the GOP primary for governor and outraised the rest of the Republican field last year, said he submitted more than 7,500 signatures.
He said he has made about 80 stops across the state in his campaign for governor, even as he has so far declined to join the other Republican candidates at forums and debates.
“It’s listening to people, listening to Iowans, making sure that I’m earning every single vote,” Feenstra said. “And then also telling them this great vision of where we want to take this state, to take the state to new heights.”
Feenstra recently launched a seven-figure ad campaign. The TV ad claimed Sand would join Democrats in Congress who refused to stand during the State of the Union address when President Donald Trump asked lawmakers to stand if they agree that, "The first duty of the American government it to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Sand’s campaign said Feenstra’s campaign was lying. A week before Feenstra’s ads were announced, Sand appeared on Simon Conway’s show on WHO radio and said he would have stood up and applauded in agreement with Trump’s statement.
Sand said Feenstra should revisit the Bible's Ninth Commandment.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness,” he said.
When asked to respond, Feenstra did not directly address the accusation that his ad lied about Sand. Instead, he called Sand “an extreme liberal.”
Brad Sherman was the first gubernatorial candidate to file for the ballot
Republican Brad Sherman filed paperwork to get on the GOP primary ballot for governor on March 2.
He said he has been to all 99 counties and submitted more than 9,000 signatures.
“We feel like we have some momentum, and we’re out there in the grassroots, working hard and we’re just having a blast falling in love with Iowa all over again,” Sherman said.
When asked what sets him apart from the other GOP candidates, Sherman highlighted his broad range of work experience — as a pastor, real estate developer and one-term state representative — and his grassroots political activism. He also said he was the first Republican candidate to get in the governor’s race, even before Gov. Kim Reynolds said she wouldn’t run for reelection.
Adam Steen says he's not afraid of candidates who have raised more money
Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, filed more than 9,000 signatures to get on the Republican primary ballot.
“We wanted to get signatures in all 99 counties to show the grassroots effort that this is," he said. "Iowans are showing up. They’re showing up to our events. We’re answering questions. We’re not afraid to answer tough questions, and Iowans know that. It resonates with them very, very well, and we’re just showing and proving that we’re here for Iowa.”
He said he is not afraid of candidates who have raised more money than him, including Feenstra.
"I've seen some of his ads," Steen said. "It actually makes us look better when he hits a camera."
Steen said his experience running businesses and serving as director of a state agency sets him apart from the other GOP candidates.
Zach Lahn brings 'MAHA' agenda to governor's race
Republican Zach Lahn, a businessman and farmer from Belle Plaine, submitted his nominating petitions with his family. He has aligned himself with U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda.
Lahn said his priorities of tackling water quality issues and Iowa’s high cancer rates are resonating with people from all political parties.
“But we have to be willing to address the root causes of this and not just beat around the bush or be around the edges on these issues," he said. "We have to be willing to confront the elephant in the room, and that is that we’ve been lied to for a long time by large agricultural companies about the safety of their products.”
Eddie Andrews made it onto ballot at the last minute
State Rep. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, turned in signatures to qualify for the GOP primary ballot on Friday afternoon, just as the filing period was closing. He said he was out gathering more signatures on the day of the deadline.
Andrews said even though he is at a major fundraising disadvantage, his repeated wins in a Democratic-leaning House district and his legislative record stand out.
“I think it would be wise for Iowans to look past the primary nomination and see who can actually win the general,” he said.
Iowans can file objections this week to candidates accepted for the ballot, and the state objection panel may remove candidates from the ballot if they are deemed ineligible.
