Rob Sand Rakes in Endorsements from Over 100 “Rob-Publicans”

Rob Sand Rakes in Endorsements from Over 100 "Rob-Publicans"

On Monday, Rob Sand's campaign released a list of over 100 registered Republicans from every corner of Iowa who are backing him for governor, the latest sign that his "platform aimed at drawing support from nonpartisans, independents and Republicans" is resonating.

The coalition includes current and former Republican elected officials and leaders, like former Crawford County Sheriff Jim Steinkuehler, who called Rob "the kind of leader who brings people together instead of driving them apart," and former Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh, who praised how "Sand keeps showing up."

The endorsements come as longtime political observers across Iowa hammer Kansas carpetbagger Zach Lahn for being "absent from the discussion," and call out his years working to make it harder for people to get health care.

Read more here about how Rob Sand is building a powerful coalition of Rob-Publicans:

Nonpareil Online: Former Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh endorses Rob Sand

• [Former Council Bluffs Mayor Matt] Walsh was announced among a slate of "Rob-Publican" endorsers by Sand's campaign for governor on Monday morning. Walsh is a Republican, and Sand is a Democrat.
• Sand's campaign announced a coalition of more than 100 registered Republican voters from across Iowa who are backing the Democratic state auditor's campaign. Sand has been running on a platform aimed at drawing support from nonpartisans, independents and Republicans.
• "Rob Sand has demonstrated a clear focus on solving the problems facing Iowans," Walsh said in the statement. "He has proven that he will be responsible with taxpayer dollars and has the management ability to prioritize the most important issues, ultimately making state government work better for everyone. That is why I am proud to endorse Rob Sand for governor."

• Jim Steinkuehler, former Crawford County sheriff, said in the campaign release that he's supporting Sand as a Republican because "he's the kind of leader who brings people together instead of driving them apart."

• Terry LeMaster, a retired captain with the Council Bluffs Police Department was also among the Republicans endorsing Sand on Monday morning.

• "I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with Rob for several years," LeMaster said in a statement provided by the campaign. "Of all the different people I've known and worked with throughout my thirty eight years in law enforcement, Rob Sand is among the most honest and fair people I know and trust. I'm confident without reservation that Rob Sand would be an excellent Governor for the State of Iowa."

Iowa Starting Line: Sand announces 100 Iowa Republicans backing his governor bid

• More than 100 registered Iowa Republicans have signed on to endorse Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand. The campaign's Monday announcement is a bid to showcase crossover appeal in what's shaping up to be one of the most competitive governor's races in the country.
• The so-called "Rob-Publicans" include former Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh, former Executive Director of the Republican Party of Iowa Steven C. Noah, a sitting Clay County supervisor, a Sac County attorney, and a former state representative, among others. The campaign also says Sand has received over 1,800 donations from registered Republican voters.
• Walsh told Iowa Starting Line that his endorsement came down to a simple contrast: Sand keeps showing up, and in Council Bluffs, he said Republicans haven't.
• "The only time I saw the governor in Council Bluffs was when Reynolds flew into the airport," Walsh said, referring to outgoing Gov. Kim Reynolds. He said Sand has visited Council Bluffs three times with a fourth trip coming. "He listens to people."
• Walsh was blunter about Lahn, the MAHA-aligned political operative and Kansas private school founder who upset Trump-endorsed US Rep. Randy Feenstra in this month's Republican primary by less than a percentage point.

• "I don't know Zach Lahn from a hill of beans," Walsh said.

• The race is rated a toss-up by multiple forecasters. Lahn enters the general election with roughly $636,000 on hand to Sand's $18.3 million.