Primary night may not settle Iowa's GOP governor race
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Republican gubernatorial candidates, from left: tsate Rep. Eddie Andrews, former state Rep. Brad Sherman, businessman Zach Lahn and former Iowa Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen. Screenshot: KCCI/Gray Media
Iowa voters could select the Republican nominee for governor Tuesday in the state's first open-seat race for the office in nearly 20 years.
Why it matters: Gov. Kim Reynolds' decision not to seek another term created a rare power vacuum in a state where Republicans have held the governor's office since 2011.
Catch up quick: U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is the best-known GOP contender in a primary that also includes former state Rep. Brad Sherman, former state department director Adam Steen, state Rep. Eddie Andrews and businessman Zach Lahn.
The other side: State Auditor Rob Sand, Iowa's only Democratic statewide officeholder, is the only Democrat on the primary ballot.
Reality check: Iowans might not learn who the GOP nominee is Tuesday because a candidate needs to clear 35% to win outright.
- If no candidate reaches that threshold, the race would be decided later at a Republican convention — giving party activists, not only primary voters, the final say.
What we're watching: Whether Feenstra's congressional profile and fundraising are enough to avoid a surprise from a right-wing challenger.
- He has come under fire from his Republican challengers over electability, including Adam Steen, who used a GOP debate that Feenstra skipped to argue that the congressman is too vulnerable to Rob Sand.
