Governor
Iowa
My vote power
High
Election date
November 3, 2026 · General election
How do we calculate my vote power?
What goes into the rating: Representation: how much weight one vote carries here compared with a statewide vote — the smaller the district, the more each vote counts. Decisiveness: how likely this race is to be close, based on past results or current analyst ratings, plus the number of candidates.
Representation: Average · 50 out of 100
This district covers a large share of its state, so each vote carries about average weight — like a vote in a statewide race. About 3,210,507 people live here.
Show the representation math
score = 50 + 50 × ln(state population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50 + 50 × ln(3,210,507 ÷ 3,210,507) ÷ ln(50,000) = 50, measured against a statewide vote in IA (grades: 66+ high, 55+ above average, 33+ average, otherwise low; a statewide race is the 50 baseline)
Decisiveness: High · rated very competitive as of August 12, 2026
Election analysts currently rate this race very close — a small number of votes could decide the winner. Rating from Inside Elections and University of Virginia's Sabato's Crystal Ball.
Show the decisiveness math
IE "Tilt Democrat" (d=2) + Sabato "Toss-up" (d=0) → mean 1 → "very competitive" → grade high (d: toss-up 0, tilt 2, lean(s) 3, likely 4, solid/safe 5; mean, first match: <1 toss-up, <2.5 very competitive, <3.5 competitive, <4.5 somewhat competitive, otherwise not competitive; toss-up and very competitive grade high, competitive and somewhat competitive grade average, not competitive grades low)
Average representation + high decisiveness → My vote power: High.
About this office
- Signing or vetoing bills that become state law
- Proposing the state budget for schools, roads, and health care
- Picking who leads state agencies
Affects: AI Regulation, Healthcare Affordability, Environment and Public Health,
Candidates
Democratic · declared
Rob Sand has served as Iowa Auditor of State since 2019. He previously worked as an assistant Iowa attorney general, where he prosecuted financial crimes and public corruption cases.
Records: Anti-Corruption 13 for, Government Efficiency 3 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for,
Republican · declared
Zach Lahn is an Iowa farmer and businessman. His campaign biography describes him as a sixth-generation Iowan and founder of Homeplace Ventures.
Records: Corporate Accountability 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for
Sources: sos.iowa.gov2