DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa’s State Auditor Rob Sand has announced he’s running for the state’s top job — Governor.

Sand, a Democrat, made the announcement Monday morning. The Decorah native has served as Iowa’s Auditor since 2019, taking over after defeating the Republican incumbent Mary Mosiman. Before becoming State Auditor, Sand was an Assistant Attorney General for Iowa, who was appointed in 2010 by then-Attorney General Tom Miller.

In a wide-ranging conversation with WHO 13’s Erin Kiernan, Sand spoke about his reasons for running, the challenges he faces as a Democrat in a “Red” state, and what the future holds for Iowa if he is elected.

“Yes, we are announcing that I’ll be a candidate for governor of Iowa in 2026. I’m really excited about that. I think that we’re ready for a new direction in the state. I think that Iowans have seen my work as the chief public corruption prosecutor and as State Auditor and realized that my approach to politics is less political. It’s more about public service, trying to actually work with everyone, trying to just do what’s right, not what’s right versus left. And I think that most Iowans would prefer that, and prefer that for a change in direction,” said Sand.

When asked about how he’d win in a Republican-controlled state, Sand replied, “I let people see who I am. Right. Most people, if you said, okay, here’s a candidate who was born and raised in a small town who’s in church every Sunday and cares about his faith, likes to hunt and fish, and owns guns, including handguns, they’d go, ‘Oh, Republican.’ Nope, that’s me. I don’t sound like a typical Democrat.”

Sand also responded to the claims that his criticism of Governor Kim Reynolds was because he’d be facing her as an opponent in 2026. Gov. Reynolds announced in April she would not seek reelection.

“I’ve treated the governor fairly. I’ve criticized actions that deserve criticism because I’m more focused on public service and truth and honesty than I am on partisanship. We’ve defended the governor,” said Sand.

Sand spoke about a big change he’d make if elected Governor — legalizing marijuana.

“There’s a couple of things that are very easy to do. Number one, treat marijuana the same way we treat alcohol. Right. Iowans are leaving the state, bringing their dollars to other states, filling their state government coffers. For that, let’s do it here in Iowa. I think that that’s the right thing to do. That would have a tremendous impact,” Sand said.

Sand is married to Christine Lauridsen Sand. In 2024, she contributed $3 million to his campaign, and her parents, Nixon and Nancy Laurdsen, added $4 million. Sand has faced criticism for the contributions from family members.

“That’s only half the truth. The other half is that we have record-breaking grassroots support from small-dollar donations. That has been true for my campaign in 2018. That has been true for my campaign in 2022,” said Sand.

“My in-laws are people who know me really well and they trust me to do the right thing. They aren’t members of the same political party, but they too, are disappointed with the direction of the state of Iowa.  And like that record-breaking number of people who gave us grassroots support, they want change.”

Rob Sand and his wife share two children.