CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — More than 1,000 Iowans streamed into the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids to listen to gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, the largest town hall turnout of his campaign so far.
The Democrat, who is looking to replace retiring Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, spoke and answered questions from the audience for about one hour during his 100 Town Hall Tour on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.
Sand insists he will be a “governor for all,” and even handed his microphone to members of the audience who said they were Republicans.
“This is about bringing Iowans together,” said Sand, the current state auditor.
A crowd enters the Veterans Memorial Building auditorium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to hear candidate Rob Sand on Sept. 23, 2026. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Sand, a native of Decorah, noted that his mother graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington High School in 1970. He and his wife, Christine, have two sons, ages 10 and 14.
The biggest crowd reaction came when Sand said if elected governor, he would end Medicaid privatization that has driven up costs for patients and health care providers.
“I want everyone to get the treatment they want in Iowa,” Sand said in response to a woman who said she had to seek treatment for her cancer elsewhere.
He noted that his opponent, Republican Zach Lahn, supports banning mRNA vaccines even as trial results have shown a new vaccine can prevent melanoma from returning or spreading for high-risk patients.
When asked about Lahn’s campaign ad that alleged Sand’s campaign was funded $13 million by a company that makes nitrate fertilizer that has contaminated Iowa water, Sand said Lahn “has a First Amendment right to lie.”
Sand has received campaign contributions from his in-laws, but their company does not make nitrate fertilizer, he said, adding that he has never taken contributions from any corporation, and rejects corporate PAC money.
“They want a better Iowa, because they actually live in Iowa,” he said of his wife’s family, citing Lahn’s frequent trips to Kansas, where he was registered to vote before changing his voter registration to Iowa in 2024, just before the deadline to run for governor.
Rob Sand listens to a question from the audience during his town hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Sand credited his opponent for being accurate about two things: “I can ride a skateboard and I do like pizza,” he said.
When asked during a press availability, Sand said Iowans upset by the growing number of data centers “have good reason to be,” and said he would end “tax handouts” and other incentives for data center companies.
Those already in the state “should contribute to the lives of Iowans,” he said, citing other policy plans on his website: RobSand.com
Sand said if elected governor, he would continue holding 100 town halls per year.
See more from the Cedar Rapids town hall, below:
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