It’s a blow for the president, who has seen most of his chosen candidates this cycle sail to victory or advance to runoff elections — until
A Trump-backed candidate lost the Iowa Republican primary for governor on Tuesday. Trump's influence on GOP primary voters is not as persistent as he'd like people to think it is.
Rep. Randy Feenstra lost the GOP primary for Iowa governor on Tuesday, a shocking upset after he earned President Donald Trump’s last-minute endorsement. Feenstra, who was narrowly defeated by rival Zach Lahn, conceded and called to congratulate him before results were official. The three-term representative outspent Lahn, a businessperson and former GOP operative, by nearly $1 million and leaned heavily into his MAGA credentials during the primary. The loss is a blow for Trump, who has seen most of his chosen candidates this cycle sail to victory or advance to runoff elections — until now. He backed Feenstra just four days before the primary, a last-ditch attempt to bolster his loyal GOP ally in a race that became increasingly competitive in the final stretch. Feenstra had asked for Trump’s endorsement earlier this year and began calling himself a “Trump conservative” in ads even before receiving the president’s backing.
Another GOP candidate named Adam Steen ran a distant third.
Regardless, Lahn will be facing the most popular Democrat in the state who just won his primary unopposed.
Lahn will face off with Democrat Rob Sand in November in the marquee race, with Iowa Democrats eager to win the governor’s mansion for the first time since 2006. Sand, the Iowa state auditor, is the lone Iowa Democrat to hold statewide office.
Rob Sand is seen as the favorite in the general election. He had been leading Feenstra in hypothetical matchups in polls by 8 to 12 points. Not sure if things would change much in a Sand v. Lahn race.
In general, this could be the best year for Dems in Iowa in 20 years.
