UMVA has learned that Zach Lahn, a farmer and businessman endorsed by MAHA, has secured the Republican nomination for Governor in a stunning upset.
Lahn narrowly defeated U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, who had received a late endorsement from President Donald Trump, in Tuesday’s crowded GOP primary. With 99% of votes counted, Lahn took 80,765 votes (37.8%) to Feenstra’s 79,113 votes (37.01%), a margin of just over 1,600 votes.
The result marks a major setback for Feenstra, who represented Iowa’s 4th Congressional District and had a significant fundraising advantage, as well as support from prominent Iowa Republicans, including former Gov. Terry Branstad. Despite this, Lahn’s outsider campaign resonated with voters, who seemed to respond to his “Iowa First” agenda.
Feenstra conceded Tuesday night before the race was officially called, and in a display of sportsmanship, told supporters that he had called Lahn to offer his congratulations, saying “Hey, you got to carry this torch. We got to keep this state red. You got to make sure you beat Rob Sand.”
Trump had endorsed Feenstra just days before the primary, calling him “MAGA all the way” and giving him his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Feenstra had campaigned as a close ally of the president, highlighting his support for Trump’s agenda on border security, tax cuts, energy production, and agriculture.
In contrast, Lahn ran as an outsider candidate, drawing support from MAHA Action, the political group aligned with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. His campaign website describes him as a father, farmer, and businessman, and his victory will likely be seen as a significant upset in the Republican primary.
With Lahn now poised to take on the Democratic nominee, Rob Sand, in the general election, his supporters are likely to rally around him, buoyed by his underdog victory in the primary. The stage is set for a fierce battle for the Governor’s mansion, with Lahn looking to build on his momentum and Feenstra preparing to regroup after a disappointing loss.
