In a surprising turn of events, Rep. Randy Feenstra was defeated in the GOP primary for Iowa governor on Tuesday, despite receiving a last-minute endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Feenstra narrowly lost to Zach Lahn, and promptly conceded, offering his congratulations even before the results were officially confirmed.
Though a three-term representative, Feenstra was unable to secure the nomination despite outspending Lahn, a businessperson and former GOP operative, by nearly $1 million and strongly emphasizing his MAGA credentials throughout the campaign.
This loss marks a setback for Trump, whose endorsed candidates had previously enjoyed success this election cycle. Trump had thrown his support behind Feenstra just days before the primary, in an attempt to aid his ally in a race that had become increasingly competitive toward the end. Even before receiving Trump’s endorsement, Feenstra had begun promoting himself as a “Trump conservative” in advertisements.
The primary race unfolded after Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds chose not to seek reelection, prompting Feenstra, Lahn, and three other candidates to vie for the GOP nomination. Feenstra, well-established in both the state and Congress, was initially viewed as the favorite, but recent polling indicated his lead was not secure.
Lahn, who has never held public office, has extensive experience in Republican politics, having managed campaigns in Montana and Colorado. He positioned himself as an outsider, declaring in an advertisement, “I’m my own biggest donor and I cannot be bought. I’m running because career politicians, special interests and corporate giants have betrayed Iowans.”
A native Iowan, Lahn spent significant time outside the state, including opening a private school in Wichita, and reportedly voted in Kansas from 2018 through 2022.
Looking ahead, Lahn will compete against Democrat Rob Sand in the November election. Iowa Democrats are hopeful for a victory that would secure the governor’s office for the first time since 2006. Sand, the Iowa state auditor, is currently the only Democrat holding statewide office in Iowa.
Andrew Howard contributed to this report.
