GOP Governor Candidate Zach Lahn Vows to Block Visa Hires, Protect Iowa Jobs

Zach Lahn, the Republican candidate for Iowa governor, is making a strong stand against foreign labor programs, promising to block state hiring of H-1B visa workers and opposing a House bill that would expand the use of H-2A agricultural laborers in the state. In a July 22 social media post, Lahn declared, 'I fundamentally and completely reject the idea that America will not thrive without illegal foreign labor.'

Lahn's comments came after a Politico article highlighted a bipartisan effort by rural GOP lawmakers to create a larger temporary foreign workforce for agriculture. He criticized the push, saying, 'Every time there's a push for amnesty in DC, the talking points are always the same: We have to do this for the (insert group). This time they're saying: It's what the farmers want! But it's always the same lobbyists and multinational corporations profiting off cheap foreign labor that are feeding politicians those talking points.'

Who is Zach Lahn?

Lahn won a stunning primary victory in June, defeating Trump-endorsed incumbent Rep. Randy Feenstra by a narrow margin of 38 percent to 37 percent. In April, Feenstra had led Lahn by 41 percent to 9 percent, but Lahn's grassroots campaign surged in the final weeks. On election night, Lahn said, 'I fear every day we are losing the Iowa we love. We've lost 10,000 family farms since 2000. Our young people are leaving faster than 46 other states because they don't see enough opportunity here.'

Lahn also took aim at Wall Street and foreign interests, adding, 'Wall Street hedge funds and foreign interests are buying and selling their land, driving up costs, so our kids are priced out of the market. They treat Iowa land like it's a commodity instead of our inheritance. They treat us like numbers, not neighbors. This is over when I'm governor.'

What is Lahn's plan for state contracts and H-1B visas?

In June, Lahn criticized Governor Kim Reynolds for outsourcing nearly 200 state computer-management jobs to a firm that profits from importing Indian workers on H-1B visas. He pledged, 'As Governor, state contracts will not go to H1B outsourcing firms. To go further, a major criteria for competitiveness for any state contact will be what percentage of the workforce is made up of Iowans. Want to be competitive? Hire more Iowans.'

On July 23, the LayoffHedge site on X reported that the outsourcing contract allows those Iowan jobs to be sent to India, fueling Lahn's argument.

How does this fit into the national debate on immigration?

Lahn's stance aligns with a growing number of Republican leaders who are denouncing visa programs. Polls show increasing American anger over job losses, with at least two million white-collar jobs held by foreign contract workers through programs like H-1B, L-1, and OPT. Opponents include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Texas senatorial candidate Ken Paxton, and Senators Eric Schmitt, Tim Sheehy, and Mike Lee. Several House members are also campaigning against the programs, including Texas Rep. Brandon Gill and Arizona Rep. Eli Crane.

Rosemary Jenks, co-founder of the Immigration Accountability Project, praised Lahn, saying, 'He is saying all the right things for an America First immigration policy. He understands what the problems are, and is willing to oppose them. That's fantastic. We need more people like that.' Jenks added, 'The Overton Window has shifted massively. There is increasingly public questioning by members of Congress and other politicians about the actual impact of these programs on Americans. That's the central question that we should be asking about every immigration program: What is the impact on Americans? Who is helped? Who is hurt?'

What does this mean for Iowa's future?

Lahn also opposes state universities' policies of transferring well-paid jobs to foreigners via the H-1B program, even as leaders complain about a 'brain drain' of young graduates leaving the state. His campaign focuses on restoring opportunity for Iowans, protecting family farms, and ensuring state contracts prioritize local workers. As the general election approaches, Lahn's message resonates with voters who feel left behind by globalization and corporate interests.