Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee for Iowa governor, concluded his second 99-county town hall tour with a final event at the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines on September 30, 2026. Over 1,800 people attended the event, braving rain and congested parking lots. Sand called for supporters to maintain momentum and bring “divided government once again” to Iowa.
Sand began the event with the crowd singing the first verse of “America the Beautiful” together. He shared his family history and political beliefs, emphasizing his opposition to the two-party political system. Audience members asked questions on topics ranging from cannabis legalization to Flock cameras.
Sand specifically invited two individuals who had previously identified as registered Republicans to ask questions. One Republican opposed the state’s Education Savings Account program, which provides public funding for private school tuition and associated costs. Sand has criticized the program, calling for oversight measures and income limits. Another Republican criticized Iowa’s public school system, stating more families were turning to private schools due to perceived inadequacies in public education. This comment received a colder reception from the crowd.
Sand acknowledged the Republican’s opinion, noting the courage it took to share it in a room where many may not share it. He stated, “Larry’s concern was he thinks that the quality of Iowa’s public schools has gone down – and what are we doing to fix that? That’s a good question.” Sand said he would advocate for a 5% increase to K-12 funding in his first term as governor if elected but would not make further commitments.
Sand mentioned that a 5% increase in K-12 funding would move the state in a different direction regarding a $1.4 billion budget deficit. He outlined plans to bring the deficit down, including treating cannabis like alcohol, making data centers pay all their taxes, and implementing income limits on the school vouchers program. He noted these measures would cover about half of the deficit once the program is operational.
Sand expressed hope for the election outcome, stating, “I think we can win this campaign.” He emphasized that Iowans are questioning what has happened to their state. While Sand aims to bring “balance” to the Iowa statehouse, the current body has a Republican trifecta, with GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republicans holding majorities in both the Iowa House and Senate.
