Businessman Zach Lahn's win in Iowa’s Republican gubernatorial primary over President Donald Trump's pick is a rare electoral setback for Trump.
Rep. Randy Feenstra , R-Iowa, talks with Eric Branstad, right, as he campaigns for the Republican nomination for governor during a rally with local residents, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Iowa democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand speaks to media after voting on primary Election Day, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. Rep.
Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, talks with Eric Branstad, right, as he campaigns for the Republican nomination for governor during a rally with local residents, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa. over President Donald Trump’s pick, Rep.
Randy Feenstra, delivered a rare electoral setback for Trump in a primary season that had previously handed him The narrow upset Tuesday revealed cracks in Trump's coalition in the deep-red state, encouraging Democrats who are hopeful they can flip control of the governor's office this year. It also marked a potential breakthrough moment for“I will take on the big ag cartels.
I will break up their monopolies, and I will get Iowa farmers a fair deal," Lahn said in his victory speech late Tuesday.with priorities ranging from ending vaccine mandates to promoting healthy soil and organic food, cheered the win as a sign their political message was resonating with voters.
“This election is a signal that pro-pesticide does not mean pro-farmer,” said Tony Lyons, the president of the Kennedy-aligned MAHA PAC, which endorsed Lahn. “Zach Lahn made transitioning away from toxic chemicals the cornerstone of his campaign and won this election decisively with strong farmer support. ”Lahn, a farmer and former conservative political director, was relatively unknown in Iowa until he launched his campaign in November.
During his campaign, he championed policies that appealed to Iowa's conservative grassroots supporters, like a total ban on abortion and keeping liberal ideology out of school classrooms. Lahn, who owns an investment company and lives on a farm in eastern Iowa that had been in his family for a century, capitalized on activists’ skepticism toward Feenstra, criticizing him for not showing up to debate his primary opponents and spending limited time on the campaign trail.
But he also carved out a niche in the MAHA movement, vocally rebuking the consolidation of farmland in the hands of corporate owners and acknowledging health concerns involving farms and poor water quality. Iowa, an agricultural stronghold, has a powerful farm lobby that has opposed mandatory rules about curbing chemicals in water.
But dangerously polluted drinking water has become an increasingly urgent issue as runoff from farmland has causedLahn said in a debate in May that water treatment system upgrades were a “Band-Aid. ” He said his goal as governor would be to “decrease the nitrate load in the water in the future so we have less stress on that system.
” In recent months, activists in the MAHA movement loudly backed Lahn as they grew increasingly impatient with the Trump administration and itsglyphosate producer Monsanto's Lahn has opposed liability shields for pesticide companies. He leaned into campaign points tied to those issues during his primary victory speech Tuesday night.
“Iowa has the fastest growing cancer rate in the world,” Lahn said. “We all know something is terribly wrong. But too many politicians from Washington, D.C. , to Des Moines have had their heads stuck in the sand while big ag and big pharma printed money.
This will not go on when I’m governor. ”“MAHA has done its job proving it’s politically radioactive to stand with chemicals over children,” Turning Point USA podcaster Alex Clark said on social media.
“Iowa knows pesticides are causing cancer which is exploding in their state. Tonight they opted for change. ”as “MAGA all the way” and said he would “fight tirelessly” for the state on issues including the economy, border security and support of law enforcement.
The power of the president's endorsement had been proven earlier in the primary season, when it helped defeat two senators — But Feenstra's loss marks a setback for the president, and it creates an opening Democrats are sure to try to seize. , the lone Democrat currently holding statewide office, is the party’s nominee for governor.
Unopposed in the primary, Sand has been able to hone his moderate message, remind voters of his rural upbringing and amass an $18 million campaign fund. Feenstra conceded his race to Lahn on Tuesday, signaling he was open to joining forces for the good of the party. He said he called Lahn to tell him to “carry the torch. ” Lahn, looking ahead to November in his victory speech, indicated he'd campaign against Sand with a traditional conservative talking point.
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