Democratic governor candidate Rob Sand has posted a record-breaking fundraising haul, easily blowing past his Republican rivals who are mired in a five-person primary fight.
Sand reported raising $9.6 million in the first five months of the year, just edging past the $9.5 million he raised in all of 2025.
Sand spent about $4.6 million and ends the fundraising period with about $18.3 million in cash on hand.
On the Republican side, businessman Zach Lahn surpassed U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in fundraising for the period, tallying about $980,000 to Feenstra’s roughly $740,000.
Feenstra entered the race as the perceived GOP frontrunner, but he’s been unable to comfortably consolidate support as he works to win over a skeptical base.
He spent heavily already this year, funneling about $3.3 million into the primary race.
Lahn has also spent aggressively, putting about $2.4 million behind his campaign.
Both Lahn and Feenstra have blanketed the airwaves with television advertising, which accounts for a big portion of their spending.
May 19 marked the filing deadline for statewide candidates to disclose their latest fundraising numbers to the state’s Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board. The fundraising period covers all activity between Jan. 1 and May 14.
This is the first public disclosure of candidates’ fundraising since January, and one more report will be made public on May 29, just days before the June 2 primary.
Rob Sand gets $4.5 million boost from family donations
Nonpartisan elections analysts at Cook Political Report earlier this year moved Iowa’s governor’s race from its “leans Republican” rating into the more competitive “toss-up” field.
The group cited Sand’s fundraising prowess as part of its decision to make the change.
“This historic haul is further proof that Iowans are done with the broken status quo that has left working families behind after a decade of one-party rule,” Sand’s deputy campaign manager Emma O’Brien said in a statement. “As we head into the general election, Team Sand is keeping its foot on the gas — showing up in every community, talking to all Iowans, and building a growing grassroots, cross-party movement that is ready for a new direction.”
Sand’s campaign said nearly 95 percent of its contributions were $100 or less, and more than two-thirds of all donations came from Iowans.
Sand’s wife, Christine, and wealthy in-laws, the Lauridsens, also gave considerably to the effort.
Christine Sand gave $1.5 million; Sand’s father-in-law, Nixon Lauridsen, gave about $2 million; and his brothers-in-law, Augustine and Walter Lauridsen, each gave $500,000.
That’s on top of the $7 million Sand’s family gave to to his campaign at the end of 2024 as he prepared to mount a gubernatorial bid, bringing their total contributions over the duration of the campaign to about $11.5 million. Sand has raised about $28 million from all sources so far this election cycle.
Republicans have been broadly critical of Sand for accepting his family’s hefty donations.
“A lot of candidates will call their family for advice, to put up yard signs, and knock doors,” Republican Party of Iowa spokesperson Jade Cichy said in a statement. “Rob Sand calls when he needs a few more million dollars. This isn’t politics as usual, it’s wealth being used to buy an election.”
Zach Lahn leads GOP governor fundraising, surpassing Randy Feenstra
In his first fundraising disclosure statement in January, Lahn reported self-financing the bulk of his campaign with a $2 million loan.
His latest report does not include any additional personal loans, although he reports contributing about $15,000 worth of in-kind contributions.
Of Lahn’s $980,000 in contributions this period, $650,000 came from just three donors.
They included Jana Scharnberg of West Des Moines, and Richard Spanton of Franklin, Tennessee, who each gave $250,000.
Patricia Tippie gave Lahn $150,000. Tippie and her now-deceased husband, Henry B. Tippie, have been major donors to Iowa institutions such as the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College.
Lahn’s campaign said their fundraising numbers show he has the momentum in the primary race.
“Republicans know this race is about the future,” Lahn said in a statement. “We cannot afford to nominate another establishment politician who gives Rob Sand an opening. This campaign is growing because Iowans are ready to address the systematic issues facing our state.”
Although Lahn raised more than Feenstra during the most recent reporting period, Feenstra has tallied more overall. So far this election cycle, Feenstra has reported raising about $5 million compared to Lahn’s $3.1 million.
Feenstra’s largest donations come from James Dean of Sioux Center ($100,000); Eldon Roth of North Sioux City, South Dakota, ($100,000); and Ronald Holden of Williamsburg ($50,000).
His campaign did not address the fundraising numbers directly Tuesday but instead rolled out a list of 500 Iowans who have endorsed Feenstra’s campaign.
“I’m so proud that more than 500 Iowans, from all 99 counties, have endorsed our campaign,” Feenstra said in a statement. “This grassroots organization will continue to power our campaign through the fall to ensure Rob Sand can never turn Iowa into another Illinois, Minnesota or California.”
Former Department of Administrative Services Director Adam Steen was next-closest in fundraising. He reported raising about $497,000 and spending about $690,000. He has about $157,000 in cash on hand.
The Family Leader, the Christian conservative group that has endorsed Steen, reported making $41,000 in independent expenditures on his behalf.
Here’s a look at how much candidates have raised and spent so far.
Rob Sand, Democrat
Eddie Andrews, Republican
Randy Feenstra, Republican
Zach Lahn, Republican
Brad Sherman, Republican
Adam Steen, Republican
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Rob Sand raises big; Lahn surpasses Feenstra in GOP fundraising
Reporting by Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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