Belle Plaine business owner announces run for governor

Another Republican — eastern Iowa farmer and businessman Zach Lahn — entered the race Thursday to become the next Iowa governor, highlighting an “Iowa First” agenda.

Lahn launched his campaign in Belle Plaine at his family farm, according to a news release. He said he plans to emphasize strengthening rural communities, supporting anti-abortion measures and “making Iowa healthy again.”

The Republican candidate has some political experience, having worked for a member of the Colorado state senate and running campaigns for Republican candidates in Iowa. He also has worked for Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political advocacy group.

Lahn, who has not previously held political office, emphasized his status as an outsider to Iowa politics and said he was backing the campaign with his own funds.

“I’m not a politician — I’m my own biggest donor, and I can’t be bought,” Lahn said in a statement. “I’m running for Governor because I believe we’re losing the Iowa we love — who we are as a people, our heritage, our culture.”

Lahn said his campaign would be focused on issues like supporting family farms, increasing border security and improving Iowa’s education system. His campaign website states he would “restore parents to their rightful place in education” and “keep ideology out of classrooms” as governor. He also said he would work to tackle large corporations’ influence on Iowans in industries like agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

“The people who built Iowa are being pushed aside by greed and corruption,” Lahn said. “Big ag and big pharma have rigged the system against farmers and poisoned our families for generations. When I’m Governor, we’ll sue them, break up their monopolies, and make them answer for what they’ve done to Iowa.”

Lahn is joining a field of candidates aiming to become the Iowa GOP candidate for governor in 2026 after Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she will not seek reelection. Other Republicans in the race include U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, Iowa Rep. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services Adam Steen and former state Rep. Brad Sherman.

Iowa Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, has an “exploratory” committee for governor, but has not officially launched a campaign.

Democrats criticized Lahn’s campaign Thursday. “If two’s company and three’s a crowd, Zach Lahn’s entrance into the five-man race for Iowa’s GOP nomination for governor is nothing short of a clown car,” Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Izzi Levy said.

“Just like his opponents, Lahn’s toxic record includes opposing Medicaid expansion, championing plans to gut public education, and supporting tariffs that are jacking up costs on Iowa farmers,” Levy said in a statement.

“And just like them, Lahn would continue the last decade of disastrous one-party leadership that has led to a failing economy, underfunded schools, widespread government corruption, and a ban on abortion that restricts women’s care before they even know they’re pregnant,” Levy said.

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and Julie Stauch, a former Democratic political operative, are running as Democratic candidates in the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart also criticized Lahn, calling him “just another member of the gang of insiders that would continue Iowa down the wrong direction.”

“Iowans need new leadership that will solve some of our toughest challenges, not more tariffs, vouchers, and health care cuts from a staffer for Kim Reynolds’ favorite special interest group,” Hart said.