Iowa Governor Election 2026: Live Results
The Iowa Governor Election 2026 is on November 3, 2026. Rob Sand (Democrat) faces Republican Zach Lahn. The seat is currently held by Republicans and is open this year. VoteTide rates the race Toss-up. Prediction markets give Rob Sand a 88% chance of winning. The average of the last 5 polls has Rob Sand ahead by 7.0 points. The last polls in Iowa close at 10 p.m. Eastern.
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Updated Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:53:40 GMT
Results
No votes have been reported yet. Polls close at 10 p.m. Eastern.
Candidates
- Rob Sand (Democrat)
- Zach Lahn (Republican)
Odds
- Kalshi: Democrat 88%, Republican 13%
- Polymarket: Democrat 89%, Republican 12%
Rating: Toss-up
Latest polls
| Pollster | Dates | Sand | Lahn |
|---|---|---|---|
| AtlasIntel | October 28 – November 1, 2026 | 54% | 44% |
| New York Times/Siena University | October 26 – November 1, 2026 | 51% | 43% |
| Rasmussen Reports (R) | October 27–31, 2026 | 50% | 45% |
| YouGov | October 26–29, 2026 | 53% | 46% |
| co/efficient (R) | October 28, 2026 | 50% | 45% |
| Echelon Insights (R) | October 16–23, 2026 | 50% | 46% |
| co/efficient (R) | October 15–19, 2026 | 49% | 45% |
| GS Strategy Group (R)/ New River Strategies (D) | October 9–13, 2026 | 54% | 43% |
| NPA Polling | October 8–12, 2026 | 50% | 45% |
| YouGov | October 6–12, 2026 | 50% | 44% |
What's at stake
For the country
- Governors don't vote in Congress, but they run elections, carry out federal programs like Medicaid, and often lead their party nationally.
- A Democratic win would be a flip from Republican control.
For Iowa
- The governor signs or vetoes state laws, writes the state budget, runs state agencies, appoints officials and judges in many states, and in many states shapes how district maps are drawn.
- For Iowa, the result decides whether the governor's party matches the legislature's, which shapes what can pass in the next four years.
- It is an open seat, so there is no incumbent advantage this year.
Rob Sand
- Supporters say a Democratic governor would invest in public schools and expand health coverage.
- They argue for protecting abortion access at the state level and raising wages.
Zach Lahn
- Supporters say a Republican governor would cut state income taxes and limit state spending.
- They argue for school choice, public-safety funding and fewer business regulations.
Arguments are summarised at party level from each side's stated priorities, not quotes from the candidates.
Frequently asked questions
Who is running in the Iowa Governor Election 2026?
Rob Sand (D), Zach Lahn (R).
Who is favored to win the Iowa governor race?
Prediction markets give Rob Sand a 88% chance. VoteTide's rating is Toss-up.
When do polls close in Iowa?
On November 3, 2026, the last polls in Iowa close at 10 p.m. Eastern. The first results usually appear within an hour.
Where do these Iowa results come from?
Vote counts come from official election sources as they are published (and from the AP when configured). Odds come from Kalshi and Polymarket, and polls from public polling tables. The page refreshes every minute.
Iowa at a glance
- 2024 presidential result: Trump +13.2
- Electoral votes: 6
- U.S. House seats: 4