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Sand and Lahn to face off in first of four Iowa gubernatorial debates

Iowa voters get their first of four chances Tuesday to see Republican Zach Lahn and Democrat Rob Sand debate face-to-face before the Nov. 3 election.

Why it matters: Iowa's four gubernatorial debates make it a national outlier as face-to-face matchups disappear from competitive races.

State of play: An Axios review found five of the 10 most competitive gubernatorial races had no debates agreed upon as of late September.

Iowa — where the Cook Political Report now rates the race Lean Democrat — has four debates scheduled.

Zoom in: Tuesday's debate starts at 7pm and is hosted by KWQC at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

Oct. 14, 7pm: KTIV hosts at its Sioux City studios.
Oct. 21, 7pm: Iowa PBS hosts at its Johnston studios.
Oct. 27, 6:30pm: KCRG-TV9 and The Gazette host at the College Community School District in Cedar Rapids.

Three things we're watching

The billion-dollar question: Whether Sand and Lahn believe the $1.4 billion in incentives approved Friday during a special legislative session for Mesabi Metallics' proposed steel mill in Lee County are worth the cost — and what safeguards or oversight they might pursue.
The farm economy: How each candidate would help Iowa farmers facing mounting financial pressure from high costs, consolidation and trade disruptions.
Breaking with party: Both candidates have taken positions that don't always fit neatly within party lines. Lahn, for example, won the GOP primary while criticizing "big ag." Sand has emphasized a cross-partisan pitch.

What's next: Tuesday's debate will air on COZI 6.3 and be livestreamed on KWQC+, with KCRG and KTIV also carrying the broadcast.