Iowa Democrats Sand, Turek Refuse to Campaign with Kamala Harris
Iowa's top Democratic candidates are drawing a clear line between themselves and the national party's most prominent figure. Both gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand and U.S. Senate nominee Josh Turek said this week they do not want former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigning alongside them in their competitive midterm races this fall.
The decisions mark a significant shift for Iowa Democrats, who are fighting to win statewide office in a state where registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats by more than 180,000 voters. Both candidates are working to appeal to independents and moderate Republicans to secure victory in November.
What did Rob Sand and Josh Turek say about Kamala Harris?
Asked on Aug. 26 whether he would welcome Harris on the campaign trail, Turek gave reporters a one-word answer: “No.” He offered no further explanation.
Sand, Iowa's state auditor, was equally direct when Politico asked if he wanted Harris to campaign for him. “No thanks,” he said. “Let's move on. We need some new leadership.”
Sand went further, saying he does not want Harris to run for president in 2028. He acknowledged that national figures like Harris and former President Joe Biden would “probably” not help his campaign in Iowa. Instead, he pointed to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat who won in a Republican-leaning state and who campaigned with Sand earlier this year in Des Moines.
Iowa Democrats seek distance from national party
The comments come as Iowa Democrats wrestle with the national party's decision to once again omit Iowa from its early voting calendar. The state's first-in-the-nation caucuses have been stripped of that status, leaving local Democrats to chart their own path without the national party's spotlight.
Both Sand and Turek are trying to position themselves as moderates, creating separation from a party that has struggled in Iowa elections. Sand has embraced his “independent mind” during his statewide town hall tour. While remaining a Democrat, he has called for eliminating partisan primaries to give independent voters a stronger voice and has criticized the two-party system.
Turek is highlighting bipartisan credentials in television ads, noting he voted 700 times with Republicans and would work with President Donald Trump if elected to Congress.
Republicans respond: 'A liberal with better branding is still a liberal'
Iowa Republicans are not buying the moderate makeover. Iowa Republican Party spokesperson Jade Cichy issued a pointed statement:
“Sand can change his rhetoric, but he can't erase his record. A liberal with better branding is still a liberal.”
Republicans note that Sand supported Biden in 2020 and praised Biden's selection of Harris as his running mate that year. They have also criticized Turek as “too liberal” for Iowa, seeking to cast him as an ally of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Rob Sand shuts down presidential speculation
Sand has attracted national attention as he runs for governor, with The New York Times recently listing him among politicians who “could make a quick leap” to a national campaign. But when Politico pressed him on a potential White House bid, Sand was unequivocal.
Asked whether he wanted to run for president, he answered: “No.” Asked whether he would consider serving as a vice presidential nominee, he again replied: “No.”
When the interviewer pressed further, Sand stood firm: “I told you my answer. You don't have to believe me.”
Republicans have criticized Sand as a career politician who has been campaigning for his next office since being elected state auditor in 2018.
What does this mean for Iowa's midterm elections?
Both races are being watched nationally as potential bellwethers. Political analysts have recently shifted Iowa's Senate and governor races to toss-up status, signaling competitive contests in a state that has trended Republican in recent cycles.
With Harris effectively sidelined from Iowa campaigning, both Democratic candidates will need to win over voters who may be skeptical of the national party. Whether their strategy of distancing themselves from Washington works will become clear on Election Day.