The Iowa governor’s race is heating up, and Democrats are rallying behind State Auditor Rob Sand, whom they’ve cast as a moderate — but critics say that image is a carefully crafted façade masking a radically progressive agenda.
Sand, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, has worked to present himself as a flag-saluting, Bible-reading hunter who sings “America the Beautiful” at town halls. But a leaked audio clip from June and a review of his policy positions, according to a report by The Western Journal, paint a different picture.
Leaked Audio Raises Questions
In the leaked audio, Sand is heard discussing proposed changes to the state’s judiciary, suggesting they be delayed until after his first term as governor so Republicans can “take their medicine.”
“Here’s the thing, I want them to send me that bill reversing those changes, and it will have an effective date of the end of my first term as governor,” Sand said in the recording, first posted by Iowa Field Report on June 10. “Because they need to take their medicine on that one, don’t they?”
Sand’s tone, the report argues, is cause for concern — a far cry from the uniter he claims to be. Instead, it suggests a willingness to use power for retribution, a stance more in line with Democratic Socialists than moderates.
The Western Journal also notes that Sand became so partisan as state auditor that the legislature passed statutory limits on his powers in 2023, signaling what critics called excessive overreach.
Policy Positions Under Scrutiny
On education, Sand wants to eliminate taxpayer-funded school choice and redirect those funds to universal preschool — a plan that mirrors policies pushed by New York City’s far-left Mayor Zorhan Mamdani, according to the report. Critics see this as a nod to teacher unions, with Sand having called educators his “secret weapon” during an April speech to a teachers’ union, encouraging them to use their community influence to sway moderate Republican voters.
Sand also favors reversing private Medicaid management in Iowa, a move that would place more control under state government.
On elections, Sand advocates for “approval voting,” a ballot structure that critics describe as confusing and chaotic, potentially diluting votes and creating enough confusion to benefit Democrats.
In a September 2025 interview with the local magazine Little Village, Sand promised to veto “stupid culture-war-Trump” bills passed by the legislature — a vague pledge that critics say is designed to avoid alienating heartland voters while leaving his true allegiances unclear.
A Familiar Bait-and-Switch?
The Western Journal compares Sand to Virginia’s Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Arizona’s Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, suggesting he might abandon his moderate posturing once in power. The report warns that Sand’s election could lead to gridlock and executive orders aligned with the liberal donor class.
Despite the criticism, the media has embraced Sand’s moderate image. Politico has dubbed him the “Democratic deer hunter,” and The Atlantic has portrayed him as a down-to-earth father who is “well positioned for victory.”
The stakes are high: A Democratic win would break the GOP’s gubernatorial winning streak in Iowa dating back to 2010. Iowa voted for President Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024, so a Sand victory could signal the state is back in play for 2028.
The report concludes by urging voters to look past the media profiles and judge Sand on his past actions rather than his recent performance art, arguing his agenda would set Iowa back a decade.
Source: www.thegatewaypundit.com — https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/false-moderates-part-3-dems-want-turn-iowa/