"I'm not a party line guy," Rob Sand said as he launched a gubernatorial campaign. "I'm a right or wrong guy."

Iowa’s State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, announced a run for governor in 2026. Sand is currently the only Democrat in a statewide elected office in Iowa after being elected to the state auditor position in 2018,

Iowa Democrat and current State Auditor Rob Sand is officially running for governor in 2026. In an interview ahead of his formal announcement Monday, Sand said Iowa needs leadership rooted in service — not partisanship — and promised to bring a collaborative approach to the state’s highest office.