How Zach Lahn feels like his lt. governor choice will help Iowans

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — There is about one Iowa farmer for every resident in the state. But three out of the four major party candiates for governor or lt. governor in 2026 are farmers.

Friday’s announcement by Zach Lahn, a Republican running for governor and farmer in Belle Plaine, that he chose state Rep. Derek Wulf, a Republican and fourth-generation cattle farmer from Hudson, meant that both Republicans on the ticket are farmers.

Lahn believes that his choice of Wulf demonstrates his commitment to rural Iowa.

State Auditor Rob Sand, a Des Moines Democrat, announced on Monday that Dave Mulbauer, a Democrat and fifth-generation cattle farmer from Manilla, would serve as his lt. governor candidate.

Sand is not a farmer. But his choice for lt. governor adds to the list of farmers on the top ticket and could elevate concerns that farmers are having this year.

Farmers nationally have struggled the past two years with falling incomes and elevated costs for fuel, fertilizer, and loans. Inflation is also at a three-year high.

Smaller communities where many of the farmers live, have been declining in population for decades and have suffered through the loss of young residents, schools, and health clinics and hospitals.

About the author: Midwest native Dave Price is Gray Television’s Iowa Political Director for nine stations that broadcast in the state and has been covering local, state and national politics from Iowa since 2001.

Dave produces and hosts “Inside Iowa Politics,” a weekly, in-depth show focused on interviews with top leaders on politics, issues, challenges, and solutions that impact the state.

He has written two books about the Iowa Caucuses (“Caucus Chaos” and “Caucus Chaos Trump”). Email him at dave.price@graymedia.com. Follow him on X (Twitter): @idaveprice Meta/Facebook: DavePriceNews Instagram: idaveprice and LinkedIn: Dave Price.