President Donald Trump suffered a rare defeat as his endorsed candidate lost in the Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary. Zach Lahn emerged victorious over U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra, who had received Trump's backing. Trump had stated in his endorsement on Friday that Feenstra was "MAGA all the way!"
Primary Results and Reactions
Lahn, a former staffer for the conservative group Americans for Prosperity, will now face State Auditor Rob Sand—the only Democrat holding statewide office—in the general election to replace Governor Kim Reynolds, who declined to seek a third term. Feenstra conceded the race late Tuesday, telling supporters in Hull, Iowa, that while the outcome "wasn't what we probably wanted," it marked the start of a new chapter. He added that he had called Lahn to urge him to "carry the torch."
Lahn's Victory Speech
Declaring victory, Lahn emphasized his outsider status, stating, "I'm not a politician." He noted that as his own largest donor, "I have not been bought and I will not be bought." Lahn framed the primary win as just the beginning, saying, "The fight starts now."
Policy Stances and Endorsements
Lahn appealed to Iowa's conservative grassroots with policies including a total ban on abortion and keeping liberal ideology out of public schools. He also embraced the "Make America Healthy Again" movement. His campaign gained momentum after an endorsement from former U.S. Representative Steve King, whom Feenstra had unseated in the 2020 Republican primary. Following Trump's endorsement of Feenstra, Turning Point Action—the conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk—shifted its support to Lahn.
Associated Press reporter Thomas Beaumont contributed from Iowa City.
