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Rob Sand
Democratic · Governor, Iowa
2026 General Election
Rob Sand has served as Iowa State Auditor since 2019, becoming the only Democrat to win statewide office in Iowa in that election cycle and demonstrating an ability to win in a state that has moved heavily Republican. A former federal and state prosecutor, he has built a reputation as a government accountability official focused on fighting fraud and waste. He is the Democratic candidate for governor in 2026 as Governor Kim Reynolds is term-limited.
Views on the Issues
Gov. Sand’s stated positions alongside Democratic and Republican party platforms. Sources cited below each position. MyPolity does not editorialize.
Democratic Platform
Rob Sand
Republican Platform
Economy & Taxes
Democratic Platform
Democrats support progressive taxation, with higher rates on top earners and corporations to fund public investment. The party favors raising the minimum wage, strengthening unions, and expanding worker protections. Democrats generally support government investment in infrastructure, education, and social programs as drivers of broad economic growth.Rob Sand
Sand supports workforce development, rural economic investment, and policies that help Iowa workers and small businesses compete. Drawing on his background as an auditor, he emphasizes government accountability and fiscal transparency alongside investment in the public goods — education, infrastructure, and healthcare — that he argues support a competitive Iowa economy. He backs policies to address Iowa's rural population decline.Republican Platform
Republicans favor lower taxes across income levels, with particular emphasis on cutting corporate and capital gains taxes to stimulate investment and job creation. The party supports deregulation, reduced government spending, and free market solutions over federal programs as the primary engine of prosperity.Healthcare
Democratic Platform
Democrats support expanding access to affordable healthcare, including protecting the Affordable Care Act and moving toward a public option or expanded Medicare coverage. The party broadly favors government negotiation of prescription drug prices and opposes removing protections for pre-existing conditions.Rob Sand
Sand supports expanding healthcare access in Iowa, including Medicaid expansion and protecting the Affordable Care Act. He has focused on rural healthcare access as a central concern, given the closure of rural hospitals and the shortage of healthcare providers in many Iowa communities. He supports protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions and lowering prescription drug costs.Republican Platform
Republicans have generally sought to repeal or significantly reform the Affordable Care Act, favoring market-based solutions. The party supports expanding health savings accounts, increasing competition among insurers across state lines, and reducing federal mandates on coverage requirements.Immigration
Democratic Platform
Democrats generally support pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients, and favor comprehensive immigration reform. The party supports increased resources for legal immigration processing and a humanitarian approach to asylum seekers at the border.Rob Sand
Sand supports comprehensive immigration reform that addresses both border security and the legal status of long-term undocumented residents. He has taken a pragmatic approach acknowledging Iowa's dependence on immigrant workers in agriculture, meatpacking, and construction, and backs policies that provide a legal framework for workers contributing to Iowa's economy.Republican Platform
Republicans prioritize border security and strict enforcement of existing immigration law. The party broadly supports completing physical border barriers, ending policies they view as incentivizing illegal entry, and reforming legal immigration to favor applicants with marketable skills.Education
Democratic Platform
Democrats favor robust federal investment in public K-12 education and higher education, along with policies to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. The party generally opposes using public funds for private school vouchers and supports universal pre-K and affordable childcare.Rob Sand
Sand supports robust investment in Iowa's public school system and has been critical of policies that divert public school funding to private alternatives. He backs increasing teacher pay, expanding pre-K access, and ensuring Iowa's universities and community colleges remain affordable. He views education investment as essential to Iowa's economic future.Republican Platform
Republicans support school choice, including voucher programs for private and religious schools, and local control over curriculum decisions. The party generally opposes federal education mandates and broadly supports parental rights in schooling. Many Republicans oppose student loan forgiveness as unfair to borrowers who repaid their loans.Gun Policy
Democratic Platform
Democrats broadly support stricter gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The party frames these regulations as consistent with the Second Amendment and necessary to reduce mass shootings.Rob Sand
Sand supports common-sense gun safety measures while acknowledging Iowa's strong hunting and outdoor culture. He backs expanded background checks and targeted safety measures that he argues are compatible with Second Amendment rights. He approaches gun policy through a public safety lens shaped by his prosecutorial background.Republican Platform
Republicans strongly defend Second Amendment rights and generally oppose new gun control legislation, arguing that existing laws should be enforced more effectively. The party emphasizes mental health intervention, the right to self-defense, and opposes what they view as infringement on law-abiding gun owners.Climate & Energy
Democratic Platform
Democrats view climate change as an urgent crisis requiring immediate government action. The party supports transitioning to clean energy through federal investment and regulation, reducing carbon emissions across the economy, and meeting international climate commitments. Democrats generally oppose expanding fossil fuel development on public lands.Rob Sand
Sand supports Iowa's clean energy economy and has highlighted the economic benefits of the state's wind energy leadership. He backs investment in renewable energy and conservation programs that benefit Iowa farmers, and views clean energy transition as an economic opportunity for Iowa's rural communities. He supports addressing climate change as both an environmental and agricultural challenge for Iowa.Republican Platform
Republicans emphasize American energy independence through domestic production of oil, gas, and coal alongside renewable development. Many in the party are skeptical of aggressive climate regulations they argue harm economic growth and jobs. Republicans generally prefer market-based energy solutions over government mandates and oppose restrictions that raise energy costs for families.Foreign Policy
Democratic Platform
Democrats generally support a multilateral approach to foreign policy, emphasizing alliances, international institutions, and diplomacy as the first line of engagement. The party broadly supports maintaining NATO commitments, providing aid to democratic allies, and engaging international bodies to address shared challenges.Rob Sand
Sand supports U.S. alliances and engagement-based foreign policy. As a governor candidate he engages foreign policy primarily through Iowa's significant agricultural export economy, supporting trade policies that open markets for Iowa corn, soybeans, pork, and beef while opposing tariffs that harm Iowa farmers.Republican Platform
Republicans emphasize American sovereignty, a strong military as a deterrent, and bilateral relationships over multilateral institutions. The party broadly supports robust defense spending and is skeptical of international agreements they view as constraining American action or requiring open-ended foreign commitments.Social Security
Democratic Platform
Democrats oppose cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits and support expanding both programs. The party generally favors raising the Social Security payroll tax cap on high earners to ensure long-term solvency and opposes any form of privatization.Rob Sand
Sand opposes cuts to Social Security and Medicare and supports protecting both programs. He backs ensuring long-term program solvency without cutting earned benefits and supports allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices as a cost-reduction measure.Republican Platform
Republicans support reforming Social Security and Medicare to ensure long-term fiscal solvency, which some in the party argue requires adjusting benefits or eligibility ages. The party opposes tax increases to fund the programs and some members have supported personal investment account options.Criminal Justice
Democratic Platform
Democrats broadly support criminal justice reform, including reducing mandatory minimum sentences, addressing racial disparities in policing and incarceration, and investing in community-based alternatives. The party generally supports police accountability measures and evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism.Rob Sand
Sand, a former prosecutor, supports both holding violent offenders accountable and evidence-based reforms that reduce recidivism and address racial disparities. As auditor he has focused on government accountability across all institutions including law enforcement. He backs community-based violence prevention and reentry programs alongside adequate law enforcement resources.Republican Platform
Republicans emphasize law and order, strong support for law enforcement, and tough penalties for crime. The party generally opposes reducing mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenses and supports prosecutors pursuing strong sentences. Republicans broadly oppose policies they view as undermining police authority or creating leniency for criminals.About these profiles. Party platform positions are drawn from the 2024 Democratic and Republican national platforms. Candidate positions are sourced from official statements, voting records, and campaign websites. MyPolity does not editorialize or endorse any candidate.