# Iowa GOP nominates MAHA-backed Lahn over Trump pick Feenstra **Published:** 2026-06-03T17:45:47.000Z **Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/03/repub/rep-randy-feenstra-concedes-to-zach-lahn-in-2026-iowa-gop-gubernatorial-primary/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/iowa-gop-nominates-maha-backed-lahn-over-trump-pick-feenstra Businessman Zach Lahn won the Republican nomination for Iowa governor Tuesday with a stunning upset victory over U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, rejecting President Donald Trump's late endorsement in a race that demonstrated fractures within the state GOP over agricultural policy and public health concerns. Lahn, a [farmer and entrepreneur from Belle Plaine](https://www.zachlahn.com/), edged past Feenstra with less than one percentage point in unofficial results—37.8% to 37% with 99% of votes counted, according to [the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/03/repub/rep-randy-feenstra-concedes-to-zach-lahn-in-2026-iowa-gop-gubernatorial-primary/). Former Director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services Adam Steen garnered 14.5%, while former state Rep. Brad Sherman received just over 7% and state Rep. Eddie Andrews got 3.6%. In a tearful concession Tuesday night, Feenstra told supporters he had called Lahn to pledge his support. "You've got to carry this torch, we've gotta make sure to beat Rob Sand," Feenstra said. It was [the first time in the 2026 midterms that a Trump-backed candidate for governor, the House or the Senate lost a primary](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/iowa-governor-primary-election-winners-sand-lahn-rcna347471). Lahn's upset victory upended political expectations in a five-candidate race where Feenstra had secured endorsements from Trump, former Gov. Terry Branstad and other major GOP figures. Instead, voters coalesced around Lahn, who championed the "Make America Healthy Again" movement led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and criticized what he called corporate control of Iowa agriculture and government. In his victory speech in West Des Moines, Lahn emphasized [Iowa's elevated cancer rates, which researchers have linked to pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals](https://www.thenewlede.org/2026/03/iowa-cancer-pesticides-nitrates/). "Iowa has the fastest growing cancer rate in the world," Lahn said, accusing politicians of ignoring the issue while "big ag and big pharma printed money." Lahn pledged to ban secret land ownership, tax hedge funds, break up agricultural monopolies and veto legislation protecting farm companies from lawsuits over their products. [Iowa has lost 10,000 family farms since 2000](https://17.8%), he noted. State Auditor Rob Sand, the [only Democratic candidate to appear on the primary ballot](https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/29/two-republicans-aim-to-become-candidate-to-flip-state-auditor-seat-to-gop-control/), secured his party's nomination unopposed. Sand [has generated attention with an anti-establishment message that takes shots at both parties](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/iowa-governor-primary-election-winners-sand-lahn-rcna347471) and is considered well-positioned for November. [The Cook Political Report has rated the general election a "toss-up"](https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings). Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann quickly rallied behind Lahn after the primary, calling him the choice of "a grassroots-powered, bottom-up movement." Democrats, however, criticized Lahn's prior work for Americans for Prosperity and his ties to Kansas, where he voted in state elections through 2022. "Lahn enters the general election on the back foot after a bruising five-way primary," Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. The November general election will occur in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the governor's office since 2006, but political forecasters believe Sand has genuine opportunities in a contest that will test whether his accountability-focused message can break through in Trump-friendly territory. ## Sources - [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/03/repub/rep-randy-feenstra-concedes-to-zach-lahn-in-2026-iowa-gop-gubernatorial-primary/) - [NBC News report on Lahn's victory and Trump endorsement rejection](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/iowa-governor-primary-election-winners-sand-lahn-rcna347471) - [Cook Political Report on Iowa gubernatorial race rating](https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/governor-race-ratings) - [Report on Iowa cancer rates linked to agricultural chemicals](https://www.thenewlede.org/2026/03/iowa-cancer-pesticides-nitrates/) - [Iowa Capital Dispatch on state auditor race and Sand's gubernatorial run](https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/29/two-republicans-aim-to-become-candidate-to-flip-state-auditor-seat-to-gop-control/) - [Zach Lahn for Governor official website](https://www.zachlahn.com/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/03/repub/rep-randy-feenstra-concedes-to-zach-lahn-in-2026-iowa-gop-gubernatorial-primary/.